Navigating the ABC’s of Caries Risk Assessment
Saturday, April 13
9 - 10:30 AM
1.5 CDE Credits – DDS, DH, DA
ABOUT THE COURSE
Dental caries is preventable, yet it continues to be the most common chronic disease in children. The price paid for dental caries is not only measured in the money spent on restorative procedures, it is also measured in the effects it has on overall health and well-being. During the early 1900s, the focus of dentistry changed from extract to restore. With the knowledge and tools available in this century, it is time to shift from restore to prevention.
Management of the caries-prone patient requires a multifaceted approach – caries risk assessment, in office care, patient education, and at-home regimens. This approach has been in the forefront for treating the at risk population. Fluoride therapies play an important role in the in-office and at-home fluoride treatment programs in the prevention and management of dental decay. It is an accepted but often under-utilized therapy. This program will provide the participant with an overview of caries development, the incidence and prevalence of dental decay in various populations, and the role of in-office and at home fluoride therapies in the management of patients who are at risk for caries development. An overview of Caries Risk Assessment will also be presented.
Learning Objectives:
● Describe the caries development process and appropriate intervention strategies
● Utilizing data obtained through caries risk assessment techniques, assign patients to the
correct caries risk level
● Develop and implement an effective in-office fluoride treatment protocol, based on
appropriate patient risk for caries development
● Utilize evidence based Clinical Practice Guidelines for patient fluoride therapies.
Sponsored by Colgate
PRESENTER
Marti Santizo, R.D.H., MBA
Marti Santizo, RDH, MBA is a Professional Education Manager for Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals covering the Western United States. She joined Colgate following a diverse career as a private practice clinical hygienist, a corporate regional manager, and a dental hygiene program director.
Marti graduated from the University of Louisville, School of Dental Hygiene with her Bachelor of Science degree in dental hygiene. She received her Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix. Marti has over 25 years of experience in private practice; 16 years were spent working with Dr. Gordon Christensen, where she sat on the board of Clinicians Report (CR, formerly known as CRA).
Marti is an active member of ADEA and ADHA. She has served on the Utah Oral Health Coalition, Utah Dental Hygiene Educators’ Consortium, the Board of Directors for Clinicians Report (CR Foundation), and the Ethics Committee for the Utah Board of Dentists and Dental Hygienists. As both a Corporate Regional Manager and Dental Hygiene Program Director, she has educated dental hygiene students, territory oral care consultants, and practicing dental professionals on best products and practice techniques. Her ability to speak Spanish has been utilized to help with the translation of educational media, and improve patient communication both in the operatory and in her humanitarian efforts in Latin America.
Marti is an avid walker and on weekends she can be found walking through the beautiful Wasatch Mountains near her home.
