• • Identify the most frequently prescribed brand name medications for the treatment of systemic illnesses.
• • Discuss the basic mechanisms of action, potential adverse reactions, drug interactions, and contraindications of these medications.
• • Explain the dental hygiene considerations of these medications and their potential impact on treatment.
• • Describe patient management strategies essential for successful treatment planning and proper care of medically complex dental hygiene patients.

The challenge faced by all dental hygienists today is to provide safe and effective treatment to our medically complex patients. However, dental hygienists find themselves practicing in a marketplace awash in direct to consumer advertising of prescription drugs and in the midst of an explosion of new drug entities over the last several years. Thus, many dental hygienists may find it challenging to stay up to date with the latest prescribing trends in disease state management. This program will provide an overview of those frequently prescribed brand name medications whose actions, side effects, contraindications, and potential drug interactions may have the greatest impact on dental hygiene treatment.