Summary
With over three decades of research, more than 57 systemic
conditions—including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive
decline—have been suspected of having links to periodontal disease. Yet,
the nature of these connections remains complex and often misunderstood.
During this presentation, sponsored by GUM®, dental hygienists
will explore the evolving relationship between periodontal disease and
systemic health, gaining a clearer understanding of the current evidence.
By gaining insight into the most plausible explanations for these
relationships, participants will be better equipped to communicate
accurate, evidence-based information to their patients.
Presenter
Salme Lavigne, PhD, RDH (she, her/elle)
Salme Lavigne has 40 years of experience in dental hygiene education
in Canada and the United States. She holds a diploma in dental
hygiene from the University of Toronto, a bachelor’s degree in
biomedical anthropology from Lakehead University, a master’s degree
in dental hygiene education from the University of Missouri-Kansas
City, and a doctorate in community health sciences from the
University of Manitoba. Currently, she is a senior scholar at the
University of Manitoba and scientific editor of the
Canadian Journal of Dental Hygiene. She has numerous
publications in peer-reviewed journals and has delivered over 120
continuing education presentations.
Learning Outcomes
After the presentation, participants will be able to:
-
Discuss common misconceptions about the nature of relationships
between oral and systemic diseases
- Describe the difference between “association” and “causation”
-
Discuss the current state of the evidence for proposed associations
between periodontal disease and diabetes, cardiovascular diseases,
respiratory diseases, adverse pregnancy outcomes, rheumatoid
arthritis, cognitive decline, inflammatory cancers, and others
-
Discuss the most plausible explanation for these associations and how
to accurately disseminate that information to your patients
-
Discuss how maintaining good periodontal health can have a positive
influence on overall health