Catching Up to Speed: Accelerating Your Understanding of "Meth Mouth" (BODEX)

Friday, 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Classroom:  Solana A&B
Meets BODEX requirement for Chemical Dependency

Methamphetamine use and overdose deaths are on the rise in this country-driven by social isolation, loneliness, job loss, and trauma. Many dental professionals are seeing the consequences firsthand, as patients present with the physical, behavioral, and oral signs of methamphetamine use. Are you prepared to recognize methamphetamine use disorder in your patients, address its oral health impacts, and guide patients towards addiction treatment? Learn how to identify the signs of methamphetamine use during routine dental exams, manage its complex oral effects, and create effective treatment and referral strategies for patients whose lives-and smiles-have been impacted by this dangerous drug.

Learning Objectives:
Participants will learn:
• How to recognize the signs of methamphetamine use during a routine dental examination
• How to incorporate principles of harm reduction to increase patient safety
• How to develop treatment plans guided by a drug-use, caries-risk assessment
• How and where to refer patients for addiction treatment and harm/risk reduction services