Dental CE Course: Is it a Cold or is it the Flu? AND Allergic Patients and Dental Care Providers: Practice Implication

Is it a Cold of is it the Flu? Overview (Morning)
Or is it something else? This course will address respiratory viral infections and how to best manage and prevent them. Influenza and its prevention will be a primary focus of the discussion including current information on avian influenza. The importance of immunization in preventing infection and the appropriate use of influenza antivirals will be addressed. Other respiratory infections will be discussed with a focus on diagnosis and when you should seek medical care.
Allergic Patients and Dental Care Providers: Practice Implications Overview (Afternoon)
This session will consider the fact that virtually every chemical, drug, and dental material employed in the dental office has been known to induce allergic reactions in both clinical personnel and patients. Certain allergic reactions are directly observable in the oro-facial tissues. The clinician should be aware of the potential hazards that patients who suffer from allergic reactions present during dental treatment.
At the completion of the course participants will be able to:
Distinguish between the signs and symptoms of the common cold, influenza, and other viral respiratory infections
Discuss the value of "flu shots" for various populations and the proper use of influenza antivirals
Understand the concerns about avian influenza and the possibility of a pandemic
Know the classifications of hypersensitive reactions, clinical manifestations, and principles associated with the development and treatment of allergies
Know the immunological mechanism and manifestations of allergic reactions associated with latex products and prevention strategies
Apply principles discussed to clinical situations and patient histories encountered