WEST ALLIS, Wisconsin – An estimated 300 dental professionals will attend a seminar on one of the hottest topics in dentistry – periodontal (gum) disease and its link to heart disease and diabetes – this Friday, Dec. 1, 2006 from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Milwaukee Marriott West in Waukesha.

The Wisconsin Dental Association (WDA) and OraPharma, Inc. are teaming up to present a continuing education session titled “Cardiology, Diabetes and the Perio/Systemic Links”. This valuable course will feature three lecturers, each with more than 20 years of clinical experience.

Marc Kress, MD is board-certified in geriatric medicine and family practice and the owner of a multi-specialty medical practice in the Philadelphia area. James Reinprecht, MD is board-certified and a published internist associated with Pennsylvania ’s Abington and Jeanes hospitals. Richard Nagelberg, DDS, PC lectures nationwide on this important topic.

Friday’s course will cover three main topics. The cardiology section will focus on anatomy, endocarditis, C-reactive protein and the dental implications of coronary artery and valvular disease. Basics of diabetes, metabolic events and dental implications will also be explored. Finally, the dental section will address bacterial origins of periodontal disease, inflammatory pathways and periodontal-systemic links.

This course will emphasize the need for comprehensive patient care by both medical and dental professionals. Visiting a dentist on a regular basis can prove to be an important tool in helping patients identify potential problems and finding ways for them to improve their overall health.

Last January, the WDA launched a healthy choices public awareness program, “Brush and Floss or Else…,” to highlight the potential for increased heart disease risk among individuals with gum disease. This course further supports that program’s radio and television spots and patient education materials.

Established in 1870, the Wisconsin Dental Association (WDA) is headquartered in West Allis . With more than 2,900 members statewide, the WDA represents the vast majority of practicing dentists in Wisconsin . Its members are committed to promoting professional excellence and quality oral health care. The WDA is one of 53 constituent (state-territorial) dental societies of the American Dental Association - the largest and oldest national dental association in the world. For more information on the WDA, call 414-276-4520 or visit www.wda.org.

SOURC: Wisconsin Dental Association

[  Printer-friendly page ]