The Oral-Systemic Connection: Oral Health and Renal Disease

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Learning Objectives:

• Describe the relationship between oral inflammation and renal disease.
• Discuss the importance of the recent adoption of renal disease into the “medically necessary” Medicare provision for oral care.
• Review interprofessional communication best practices to provide optimal care for patients on dialysis, in end-stage disease, and in the transplant process.

Author Qualifications:

Maria Geisinger, DDS, MS (Moderator)
Dr. Geisinger is a professor, director of advanced education in periodontology, and acting chair of the Department of the Periodontology the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). A Diplomate and current President of the American Board of Periodontology, Dr. Geisinger is also a Fellow in the International Team for Implantology, the International College of Dentists and the American College of Dentists.

Effie Ioannidou, DMD, MDSc
Dr. Ioannidou is a professor of oralfacial sciences at the University of California, San Francisco, School of Dentistry. Dr. Ioannidou is a founding member of the IADR Women in Science Network. She served as the Associate Editor of the JDR Clinical and Translational Research until June 2023. She is currently the AADOCR President-elect (2022-2026).

George Fares, MD
Dr. Fares is a nephrologist in Springfield, Massachusetts and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Baystate Medical Center and Mercy Medical Center-Springfield. He received his medical degree from St Joseph's University Medical School and has been in practice for more than 20 years.

Eric Berger
Mr. Berger serves as director of the Consortium for Medically Necessary Oral Health Coverage. Mr. Berger's experience includes serving on the professional staff of the Commerce Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives and as Virginia's Legislative and Policy Director for Health and Human Resources. Mr. Berger also served as CEO of the Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare, Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Communications for DaVita, and Vice President of Government Relations and Public Policy for US Oncology.