Joshua Austin, DDS, MAGD

Presented in Dr. Joshua Austin’s trademark comedic style, this course explores strategies for working together to improve mental health so we can be our best.  Learn how to recognize triggers and warning signs. Identify essential tools and resources. Discover how and when to refer to a mental health professional. Explore and understand mental health terms, common treatments and therapy options. Gain coping mechanisms and learn how to manage expectations – both our own and those of our patients.

Dr. Austin’s Course Title:  Our Chamfered Psyche: The Mental Dental Connection

 Course Description:

Dental professionals often examine the physical aspects of wellness, yet we rarely explore or discuss the mental aspects. It is time to remove the taboo and face the facts, like anxiety, pain, depression, burnout. Dentistry can be difficult and take a toll. Studies show us that dental professionals experience a high incidence of mental illness. Additionally, many dental professionals don’t clearly understand the mental health conditions that our patients present with, which red flags to watch for or what to do/how to intervene. 

Learning Objectives: ·      

. Define mental health terms and analyze mental health statistics

·       Discover mechanisms for coping with our personal and professional challenges

·       Illuminate common DSM-5 diagnoses and characteristics

·       Learn how to choose the professionals for our own personal wellness team

·       Identify and examine our psychologic triggers and their importance

·       Explore the benefits of psychotherapy

·       Consider today to be Dental Mental Health Day!

 Dr. Ann Eshenaur Spolarich, RDH, PhD, FSCDH

Dr. Spolarich is an internationally recognized author and speaker on pharmacology and the care of medically complex patients. She has presented more than 1,000 invited lectures and has over 125 professional publications. She is Professor, Course Director of Oral Medicine and Pharmacology, and Assistant Dean for Research at the Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ASDOH), where she also teaches part-time in the Special Care Clinic. Ann is also a faculty member in the NYU Langone AEGD residency program at ASDOH. She was awarded fellowship status in special care dental hygiene by the Special Care Dentistry Association in 2016.

 Dr. Spolarich’s Course Title:  Promoting Whole Person Health in Patients with Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders

Course Description:

All dental professionals encounter patients with complex medical histories, including mental illness and substance use disorders. Adolescents, Baby Boomers and older adults all experience substance use disorders, and lifetime use is associated with numerous chronic oral and systemic health problems. Dependency on prescription drugs is widespread with a multifactorial etiology. The purpose of this course is to discuss the impact of substance use on oral and general health, and to review important considerations for providing dental treatment to patients who have a current history of depression, anxiety and substance use disorders.  Clinicians will gain practical guidance to support decision-making to safely treat dental patients who present with these conditions.  Participants will learn strategies to overcome the stigma associated with mental illness and substance use disorders to promote whole person health and well-being.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this continuing education program, course participants will be able to:

·       Identify substances that are commonly abused by individuals across multiple age groups.

·       Identify and discuss co-occurring mental illness with substance use disorders (SUD). 

·       Review medications used to treat depression and anxiety with related oral adverse events and dental practice management considerations.

·       Discuss risk factors, associated symptoms and treatment options for alcohol use disorder (AUD), opioid use disorder (OUD), nicotine use disorder (NUD) and stimulant use disorder. 

·       Discuss drugs used for medication assisted treatment (MAT) for SUD and associated long-term benefits.

·       Integrate the NIDA Quick Screen tool for SUD screening in the dental office.

·       Discuss treatment planning considerations and related modifications when managing dental patients with depression, anxiety, and SUD.

 AGD Subject codes 149 & 157