Risks Not Heeded

Dietary supplement use is not new, but its popularity has been on the rise. More than half of patients receiving facial surgery were taking some sort of supplement, according to a study at Case Western Reserve University published in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. The supplements in the study most commonly linked to complications were multivitamins, vitamin B, and calcium supplements. We can easily extrapolate these results for dentistry.

When complications arise as they did in the case report highlighted in our continuing education article, “The Role of Dietary Supplements in Postsurgical Bleeding: An Update for the Practitioner,” we, as healthcare practitioners, can face serious issues, such as compromised patient health, diminished patient outcomes, damaged professional reputation, and even legal concerns. These are all potential risks we might be taking by not asking our patients one simple question: Do you use supplements? We never want patients to falsely believe that such a detail is inconsequential to mention just because we didn’t ask. This article reminds us of the responsibilities we have as dental professionals to do no harm.

I also want to congratulate our long-time Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry board member and regular contributor Dr. Stuart J. Froum, this year’s recipient of the Master Clinician Award from The American Academy of Periodontology. He also coauthored the article I mentioned above. As one of the highest awards from the academy, this honor is bestowed annually to a member who has demonstrated consistent clinical excellence in periodontology and who continually shares that clinical experience with others. Last year, another highly esteemed Compendium board member, Dr. Paul S. Rosen, received this same award, demonstrating the high caliber of our editorial advisory board.

As we conclude our 37th year of publishing Compendium, I’d like to thank our editorial advisory board for its unwavering commitment to this publication. We greatly appreciate the time and effort the board members take in making sure the articles we publish meet our demanding standards.

As you may have noticed, we began a new email program called Board Member’s Choice. These emails call attention to an outstanding article in a given issue that a board member selects. We pair it with a video interview with the author on the genesis and importance of the article, offering you an added dimension to your Compendium experience. Be sure to sign up at compendiumlive.com/subscribe.

As always, thank you for your continuing support. I welcome your comments and feedback.

Sincerely,

Louis F. Rose, DDS, MD
Editor-In-Chief
lrose@aegiscomm.com