Potentially Lethal Oral Conditions Presenting to the Dentist
Date(s)Michaell A. Huber, DDS
Subject: 730 Oral Medicine, Oral Diagnosis, Oral Pathology
Credits: 1
Method: Lecture
Tuesday, March 25: 7–8 p.m. CDT
Audience: Students, Residents, Dentists, Dental Assistants
Fee: $37.50 (students and residents); $75 (members); $125 (nonmembers)
Description
The mouth is often described as a window to one’s overall health, and numerous systemic diseases and conditions may affect the oral cavity of the patient. Common examples include dry mouth associated with rheumatological disease, periodontal disease associated with diabetes, and glossitis associated with poor nutrition. In some cases, oral cavity involvement may be the first sign or symptom, leading the patient to seek an evaluation by an oral healthcare professional. The purpose of this presentation is to present six real-world scenarios in which the oral healthcare professional discovered a potentially lethal condition while accomplishing a routine oral examination.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the importance of accomplishing a disciplined and comprehensive oral examination on all patients.
- Describe the signs and symptoms of a potential hematologic emergency.
- Describe the signs and symptoms of two potentially fatal vesiculo-erosive diseases.
- Describe the signs and symptoms of a potentially fatal gastrointestinal disease.
- Understand the importance of mimicry when assessing any oral lesion or condition.
Michaell A. Huber, DDS, is a 1980 graduate from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Dental School, San Antonio, Texas. Upon graduation, he embarked upon a 22-year career serving in the U.S. Navy Dental Corps. He received a certificate in oral medicine from the National Naval Dental Center, Bethesda, Maryland, in 1988 and is a diplomate of the American Board of Oral Medicine. Huber retired from his full-time faculty position in 2020 but continues to support the school’s mission of teaching excellence as an adjunct professor. He also currently serves as a member of the National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards Appeals Board.