Dr. Epstein is an internationally known speaker in clinical oral medicine and oral oncology. He is highly published in the topics he presents. Please contact any of the office locations for enquires and planning.
Dr Epstein is a clinician educator, and has been active in education throughout his career; He has spoken to study groups, residency programs and large research meetings, conventions and continuing education in dental and medical programs. He has been university based and is active in academic medical centers.
Presentations are directly related to patient care, clinical, evidence based and based upon current guidelines and recommendations for practice. Presentations are current, evidence based, based upon pathobiology of the condition, current guidelines in the literature, and upon continuing research. Dr. Epstein has played a leading role in guideline development in mucositis, oral care in oncology and skin toxicity and geriatric study groups of the leading guidelines developing organization in oncology, the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer.
Previous presentations given are listed on the web site.
Recent Topics in Oral Medicine
- Sexually transmitted disease and dental practice
- Diagnosis and management of common oral lesions
- Early detection, diagnosis and management of oral premalignant lesions
- Oral function and nutrition
- Burning mouth syndrome
- Taste
- Hyposalivation and oral care
- Antimicrobial prophylaxis in dental practice: biology and changing guidelines
- Bisphosphonate necrosis and new osteolytic inhibitors
- Photobiomodulation (level laser light therapy) and head and neck and oral care
Recent Topics in Oral Oncology
- Oral Manifestations of Cancer: diagnosis
- Oral mucositis: Significance, Etiology, Prevention and Management
- Osteonecrosis: Pathogenesis, Prevention and Management
- Hyposalivation and oral care
- Taste: Physiology, Effect of Cancer Care, Management
- Head and neck pain in cancer patients
- Oral mucositis
- Guidelines for oral and dental care of cancer survivors
- Survivorship and End of life Oral Care
- Periodontology and cancer
- Bone marrow and stem cell transplant: Oral and Dental Care
- Diagnosis, pretransplant oral care, acute and chronic oral complications
- Transplant Medicine and Oral Care
- Oral Graft versus Host Disease
- Inflammation and cancer
- Oral complications of immunotherapy for cancer
Example of extended programs:
I. Periodontology and Cancer:
This unique program will discuss the importance of periodontal disease and management throughout the cancer continuum, with a goal to discuss and promote understanding of the role of the periodontal disease and periodontal considerations in cancer from diagnosis to survivorship.
- Periodontal Considerations in Oncology
- Manifestations of Cancer: diagnosis
- Infection as a Complication in Cancer Patients
- Inflammation and Cancer
- Periodontal Considerations in Cancer Care: Pretreatment
- Head and Neck Cancer Therapy
- Solid Tumor Chemotherapy
- Stem cell transplant
Periodontal Treatment Needs and Precautions for Treatment in Cancer Survivors
- Head and Neck Cancer Therapy
- Solid Tumor Chemotherapy
- Stem cell transplant
II. Cancer Patients and Oral Health
Oral cancer is commonly thought to be of oral origin, but oral involvement by systemic cancer may be the first manifestation of disease. The oral health care provider has a responsibility for early detection of premalignant and malignant disease and for diagnosis. The changing epidemiology of cancer is leading to increased presentation of cancer patients to the dental office. The oral care of cancer patients is clearly the role of the dental provider and appropriate care must be provided at the appropriate time. Principles of oral/dental prior to cancer therapy will be presented. Oral complications of cancer therapy are common throughout active treatment of cancer and can be the most debilitating of complications of cancer treatment; prevention and management will be discussed. Cancer survivors represent approximately 4% of the general population and therefore in dental care and may have unique needs and management. The considerations for oral management of cancer survivors will be discussed.
Basic principles:
- Cancer Biology
- Changing Epidemiology
- Advances in cancer care that impact oral care of caner patients
Recognition and diagnosis of cancer presenting in the oral cavity
Pretreatment oral dental assessment and care
- Dental treatment in preparation for cancer therapy
- Recommendations for prophylaxis of oral complications in cancer care: biology, prevention and management
Oral Complications during cancer therapy: biology, prevention and management
Oral Management Following cancer therapy: Survivorship issues, prevention and treatment; impact of past and ongoing cancer care on dental providers
III. Changing Epidemiology of Head and neck cancer:
- Risk Factors
- Impact of HPV
- Site specificity of HPV
- Biology of HPV associated cancer and impact on therapy
- Risk of secondary cancer
- Cancer therapy in the era of HPV
- Oral Care in Cancer Patients
Oral Premalignant Lesions
- Recognition and detection
- Currently available modalities
- Research in new detection technologies: OCT, Raman, Cytology, Molecular markers (LOH, others), 3D cytology
IV. Advances in Cancer therapy and Dental Management
- Current approaches to management: local and systemic therapy, chemoprevention, targeted therapies
- Oral care in the current era of cancer therapy
Advances in treatment of HNC and implications for dental care
- Principles of cancer therapy: Surgery (including TORS and laser),
- Radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, maintenance therapy
Oral care in the current era of cancer therapy
V. Advances in Hematologic Stem Cell Transplant and implications for dental care
- Transplant type: Autologous, allogeneic HCT
- Conditioning Regimen: Reduced intensity conditioning
- Transplant source: marrow, peripheral stem cell, cord blood transplant,
- Tandem transplant
- Supportive Care: pain, nausea, growth factors
- Preventive oral care prior to cancer therapy; during cancer therapy and survivorship
VI. Head and Neck Cancer and Head and Neck Manifestations of distant and systemic
- cancers: Recognition and Diagnosis
- Current Oral and Dental Treatment and Prevention Strategies for head and neck
- cancer therapy:
- Early Detection
- Current guidelines and evidence base for MASCC/ISOO
- Oral Care during HNC Therapy
- Current guidelines and evidence base for MASCC/ISOO
VII. Oral Care in Oncology and Quality of Life:
- During treatment, early post treatment and survivorship and end of life care
- Mucositis:
- Impact
- Epidemiology
- Biology
- New Developments and approaches of management
VIII. Head and neck and oral infection in oncology
- Oral infection and systemic infection: Bacterial, fungal and viral
- Epidemiology, mechanisms, prevention and management
IX. Survivorship of Cancer and Oral and Dental Care
- Survivors of cancer therapy now represent approximately 4% of the general population, more likely to be seen for ongoing oral care needs in clinical practice. Increasing research is providing evidence of impact and management.
- Current guidelines and evidence base for MASCC/ISOO
X. The oral impact of new targeted cancer therapies
- Unique oral complications of targeted cancer therapies have been recognized.
- Diagnosis and approach to management.
XI. Taste Function, Dysfunction and Management
- Impact upon nutrition
- Epidemiology, assessment, mechanisms, impact
- Prevention and management
XII. Salivary gland dysfunction:
- Quality of life; impact, diagnosis
- Management during and following cancer therapy
- Prevention and management of dysfunction in the new era of cancer therapy
XIII. Survivorship in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant:
- Oral complications: Graft versus Host Disease:
- Pathogenesis,
- Orofacial manifestations, diagnosis, prevention and management
- Dental care
XIV. Head and Neck and Orofacial Pain Management during Cancer Therapy
- Impact
- Epidemiology
- Biology/Mechanisms
- Mechanistically directed therapies: providing effective pain management; clinical guidelines
Day Program (or limited to ½ day)
II. Cancer Patients and Oral Health
Detection and diagnosis of cancer is commonly thought to be limited to oral cancer, however, oral involvement by systemic cancer may be the first manifestation of disease. The oral health care provider has a responsibility for early detection of premalignant and malignant disease and for diagnosis. The changing epidemiology of cancer and increasing cancer survivorship is leading to increased presentation of cancer patients to the dental office. The oral care of cancer patients is clearly the role of the dental provider and appropriate care must be provided at the appropriate time. Principles of oral/dental prior to cancer therapy will be presented. Oral complications of cancer therapy are common throughout active treatment of cancer and can be the most debilitating of complications of cancer treatment; prevention and management will be discussed. Cancer survivors represent approximately 4% of the general population and therefore in dental care and may have unique needs and management. The considerations for oral management of cancer survivors will be discussed.
Basic principles:
- Cancer Biology
- Changing Epidemiology
- Advances in cancer care that impact oral care of caner patients
Recognition and diagnosis of cancer presenting in the oral cavity
Pretreatment oral dental assessment and care
- Dental treatment in preparation for cancer therapy
- Recommendations for prophylaxis of oral complications in cancer care: biology, prevention and management
Oral Complications during cancer therapy: biology, prevention and management
- Oral Management Following cancer therapy: Survivorship issues, prevention and treatment; impact of past and ongoing cancer care on dental provid