Anna Matthews, RDH, MS, is a professor and chairperson of the Dental Hygiene Program at New York City College of Technology. She has taught oral anatomy, pharmacology, principles of dental hygiene care-II seminar, and clinical dental hygiene, and has served as one of the clinic coordinators. Her research interests include emerging issues in dentistry and dental hygiene, microbiology of the oral and systemic diseases, novel pharmacotherapeutics and their effects on general and oral health, as well as interdisciplinary education, educational innovations, and technology in the classroom. Matthews is also a member of Dimensions of Dental Hygiene’s Editorial Advisory Board. She can be reached at: amatthews@citytech.cuny.edu.
Providing patients with scientific information and clarifying misinformation about cannabis are essential to the provision of safe, ethical, and compassionate care.
In order to safely and effectively manage this patient population, oral health professionals should be able to recognize the medical indications for which antiplatelets are prescribed and understand their adverse effects.
Special considerations are needed when providing dental care to patients taking novel oral anticoagulants.
By Sandra Stramoski, RDH, MSDH, and Anna Matthews, RDH, MS