The history of clinical diagnosis began in earnest from the enlightened days of Hippocrates in ancient Greece but is far from perfect despite the enormous bounty of information made available by medical research including the sequencing of the human genome. The practice of diagnosis continues to be dominated by theories set down in the early 1900s. The word “diagnosis” is derived from Greek and it is literally translated “through knowledge.” Diagnoses do not come about by “blinding flashes of brilliance” but instead are arrived at rather methodically through the systematic and disciplined application of knowledge. This half-day presentation is designed to reacquaint the oral health care provider with common mucosal presentations. There is an axiomatic principle that governs clinical practice – “common things occur commonly”. According to a recent study, there are a handful of relatively common oral mucosal presentations that comprise almost three-quarters of oral lesions for which patients seek consultation. This course will provide a review and clinical update of those commonly encountered pathologic entities as well as the deployment of the appropriate treatment algorithm. Clinical presentations from aphthae to zoster will be covered in an effort to improve the clinician’s comfort level in diagnosing and managing these conditions.

Learning objectives:

• Expand your clinical diagnostic algorithm
• Correlate oral presentations with systemic possibilities
• Expand your treatment algorithm

Dr. Gonzales was recently selected to serve as the Executive Director of the American College of Dentists. In 2013, she retired from the United States Army Dental Corps after a long and distinguished career in active federal service to this Nation. Dr. Gonzales has authored over fifty scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals and was the recipient of the International College of Dentists Award for Excellence in Research. She has received the Order of Military Medical Merit and the Surgeon General’s A designator for clinical excellence. She graduated with distinction from the United States Army War College in 2008. Theresa is also a Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology at the Medical University of South Carolina- James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine.

Dental Society of Western PA is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider Approved by Pennsylvania Dental Association.
ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry.
Dental Society of Western PA designates this activity for 6 continuing education credits.