The Older Adult: The New Face of Addiction
Addiction is an unspoken issue in older generations. This course will examine the widespread problem of substance abuse and addiction among older adults. Elderly adults present with higher risks for cancer, infections and infectious diseases due to past and continued use of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs. This lecture is presented by Ann Spolarich, DDS, RDH, PhD, FSCDH, of the Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health, and A. T. Still University. This lecture will identify substances that are commonly abused by elderly individuals, identify factors that contribute to drug dependency in older adults, and describe risks for cancer, infections and infectious disease associated with drug use among elderly patients. This presentation will take place on Saturday, April 4th.  
Updates on Cardiac Devices, Treatments, along with Advances in Assist Devices and Transplantation
Another bright point in our 2020 programming is a presentation sponsored by the Council on Hospital Dentistry. This lecture will be delivered by Ali Nsair, MD; Renna Zahr, DMD; and Elan Moreno, RN, BSN, a Transplant and VAD coordinator. Attendees will have the chance to learn about cutting-edge cardiac procedures up to and including mitral clips, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), Ventricular assist devices (VADs), and heart transplantation. Participants will have the opportunity to learn how and why dentistry is a vital part of this process. This presentation will take place on Saturday, April 4th.  
Updates on Head and Neck Cancer Treatments, along with Advances in Radiation Oncology and Medical Oncology Sponsored by the ABSCD Board of Directors.
How can dentists help patients with head and neck cancer? At this year’s annual gathering you will find among our expansive and thought-provoking presentations such as this one. This lecture will be led by Travis Shiba, MD, a head and neck surgeon; Wanxing Chai-Ho, MD, a medical oncologist; Robert Chin, MD, a radiation oncologist; and Evelyn Chung, DDS. This exciting presentation will discuss new advancements in the dental treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients, and the role of dentist in pre-radiation and post-radiation process. Topics discussed will include how to treat TNC patients, how patients benefit from a multidisciplinary approach, and the dental treatment of this population. Participants can attend this presentation on Friday, April 3rd.