Informed consent and the cognitively impaired geriatric dental patient.

Many geriatric patients will have cognitive impairment, sometimes temporary and other times progressive. Dentists are challenged to evaluate for the presence of cognitive impairment that can affect the consent process. This review gives an overview of types of cognitive impairments, clues to recognizing these conditions, how they affect the dental consent process, and what makes an effective informed consent.

Headache improvement through TMD stabilization appliance and self-management therapies.

The purpose of this study was to assess headache response of unselected neurology clinic chronic headache patients to TMD stabilization appliance and self-management therapies, and to identify features of patients whose headaches are more likely to improve from these therapies. Twenty chronic headache patients in a nontreatment control period were provided appliance and self-management therapies, evaluated five weeks after therapy, and those who chose to continue using their appliances were evaluated three months later. The mean pretreatment Headache Disability Inventory (HDI) score of 64.

Post-traumatic stress disorder: considerations for dentistry.

A dental patient with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may present with greater dental and behavioral challenges than most dental patients. The background review of PTSD's initiating factors, diagnostic criteria, and medical management should help practitioners better understand and manage these challenges. Many of the challenges the clinician may encounter and managing recommendations are described.

Adult hemopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Background: Hemopoietic stem cell transplantation, or HSCT, is an important tool in modern cancer treatment. Refinement of transplantation techniques and supportive care has resulted in increased posttransplantation survival rates. Dental care is a key supportive element in both pretransplantation and posttransplantation care of this patient population.