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CDE9395: Herbal Interactions with Medications Commonly Used in Dentistry (1 hour of instruction) is a Course

CDE9395: Herbal Interactions with Medications Commonly Used in Dentistry (1 hour of instruction)

Ends May 1, 2026
1 credit

$50 Enroll

Full course description

Did you know that more than 20% of hospital admissions are due to adverse drug reactions? Just because dentists prescribe less than 10% of all available drugs, your patients may be taking others from the 90% with which you are not familiar. This is further compounded in patients taking complementary, alternative and natural therapies versus our traditional pharmaceuticals. Since polypharmacy is the norm, especially in the over 65 year old population, this course should be considered essential to every practice setting today.

Do you have patients who are already on one prescription medication before they come to your office? How about four prescription medications? Did you know that the likelihood of a drug interaction in a patient on five medications is greater than 50%?  This risk continues to escalate in our patients also taking complementary, alternative and natural therapies. With so many new medications, herbal products, over-the-counter drugs, and supplements available on the market, how can you be confident that the prescription you write is compatible with what your patient is currently taking? 

This program looks at the most common herbal interactions with those medications used in dentistry, and offers the safest approach in managing our most critical patient populations.  The program will conclude with a discussion of references and suggested databases.  After all, when an adverse drug reaction occurs due to an herbal-drug interaction, who is more at risk - you or your patient?

Educational objectives
At the end of this program, participants will be able to:

 

1)      Understand the major differences between the nutraceutical and the pharmaceutical industry

2)      Recognize the top 20 selling herbal medications in the United States and the 9 on this list which may be of greatest interest to oral healthcare practitioners

3)      Describe the potential for herbal-drug interactions and articulate strategies to avoid them

4)      Recognize reputable databases and references and how to utilize these tools to evaluate drug therapies and herbal interactions

5)      Describe the H.E.R.B.A.L. mnemonic and how it can be implemented into current clinical practice