Celiac Disease, Gluten Sensitivity and Your Dental Patients
Presenter: Melissa E. Ing, D.M.D.
Nearly 3 million people in the United States have Celiac disease with many of these people remaining undiagnosed due to poor understanding of the disease. Celiac disease presents with a wide range of symptoms, complicating the diagnosis. In general, health practitioners are lacking in awareness of Celiac disease and as a result are often slow to diagnose. Celiac patients sustain damage to the small intestine as well as a possible myriad of other problems. If the condition worsens it can possibly lead to cancer.
Dental professionals can play a large role in helping to detect Celiac disease and other gluten disorders for their patients if they learn to recognize the symptoms and oral manifestations. This lecture will explain how gluten affects those with Celiac disease and those with gluten disorders. Some of the latest gluten research done at Tufts Dental will be presented as well. Presenting the dental team with better awareness of both Celiac disease and gluten disorders can result in prompt referrals for diagnosis and subsequent treatment options.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this presentation participants will be able to:
Identify oral manifestations and symptoms of Celiac disease/gluten disorders to assist in prompt referrals of patients to primary care practitioners.
Participate with interdisciplinary teams in medicine and nutrition for information integration.
Apply knowledge about poorly understood Celiac disease and gluten disorders to create safer clinical environment protocols in dental offices.
Dr. Melissa Ing is an Associate Professor, Department of Comprehensive Care, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
Dr. Ing is responsible as Course Director for Introduction to Clinical Materials Operative Workshop Course Year II/ Rising Year III Course, teaching Operative Pre-Clinical and Clinical for Years I-IV pre-doctoral students, teaching in Dental Anatomy, Craniofacial Function and Occlusion and Removable Full Dentures Course Years I-II pre-doctoral students, coordinating, lecturing, and delivering Introduction to the Dental Patient (IDP) Years I, III Courses on Ergonomics, Caries Diagnosis, Identification, Treatment Planning, and Caries Removal Workshops, and Standardized Case Notes and for producing Infection Control training videos, webinar, and media to assist with school compliance (currently there are 5 videos, 4 still ads, and 1webinar fabricated)
