Beyond the Smile 2024 | At the Crossroads: DEI, Dentistry and Drug Use

Joint Providers:  Zufall Health & NJHA/HRET

Speakers
Michael Ganon, DO
Zufall Health

Kelsey Orr
Zufall Health

This course examines the intersection of dental health and substance use disorders through the lens of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). We will explore the common challenges faced by marginalized groups, focusing on both internal and external barriers to achieving equity and inclusion. The course will delve into the physiological connections between dental issues and substance use, highlighting how each affects the other. Additionally, we will review the adverse effects of illicit substances on dental health and discuss the potential negative impacts and benefits of medications used to treat substance use disorders on oral health.

At the conclusion of this program, participants will be able to:
 

• Identify the common challenges faced by marginalized groups in achieving dental and medical treatment equity and inclusion.
• Understand the physiological and socioeconomic relationship between dental issues and substance use disorders, and how each condition can affect the other.
• Learn the general adverse effects of substance use on dental health.