1.5 CEU Nutrition: Starting the Conversation

This course will discuss the impact of daily dietary choices and the effect they have on the human body. We will discuss nutrition as it relates to the dental patient and learn how to use appropriate resources and use of referrals to other health care providers outside of dentistry. Many chronic diseases have signs and symptoms within the oral cavity. Inflammatory diseases often begin with inflammation of the gingival tissue, or gingivitis, which is the first stage of periodontal disease. Dental professionals have the advantage of seeing patients two to four times a year for hour-long appointments. Dental professionals have the training to identify potential nutritional deficits for patients while discussing medical history, checking vital signs, or seeing signs within the mouth. It is within the scope of practice to present basic nutritional information to the patient as it relates to dental and systemic health. It is important that the…