For Dentists and Dental Hygienists:
2–3 hours for associated CEU credits

Course Description:

We are a self-medicating, hype believing society that wants a quick fix fast. If Dr. Oz says it’s good for us—we head straight to the local pharmacy or health store to see if we can find it on the shelves! Our bodies need vitamins and minerals to function efficiently but which ones—and how much? Probiotic use is a fast growing market in regards to general health and oral health. What are the implications for use in dentistry? Supplements promise everything from weight loss to increased energy. How can we be certain the claims are true? Do food trends such as Acai berry, energy drinks and juicing have a potential impact on oral health? As dental professionals, we need to be aware of the changing landscape of probiotic use, dietary supplements and food fads and how these trends could potentially impact patient care.

  • Define probiotic and identify common probiotics and their implications for dentistry.
  • Discuss the use of vitamin and mineral supplementation specific to various patient populations.
  • Know how to determine if a vitamin or mineral is considered safe and pure by U.S. Standards.
  • Provide patients with useful resources to determine risk versus benefits of certain supplements.
  • Discuss fad diets, the varying food trends and the potential impact on oral health.
Lisa F. Mallonee, MPH, RDH, RD, LD received a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene and a Master of Public Health with a coordinated degree in nutrition from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to becoming a Registered Dietitian, Lisa practiced full time as a Registered Dental Hygienist in both general and public health practice settings.

Lisa is a tenured Professor, Graduate Program Director and Registered Dietitian at Texas A&M University College of Dentistry, Caruth School of Dental Hygiene where she currently teaches courses in public/community health and provides nutrition lectures in the dental hygiene and predoctoral dental curriculum, and oversees practicum placement and thesis research as co-director in the College of Medicine’s Education for Healthcare Professionals graduate program. Additionally she serves as a preceptor for the Baylor University Medical Center Dietetic internship program. As a health care professional and educator, she is committed to two interconnected goals: sharing her knowledge, expertise, and passion while promoting the value of interprofessional collaboration among dental professionals within the wider health care community for greater patient/client outcomes.

Lisa serves as a reviewer and expert content advisor on numerous publications which include: The Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Journal of the American Dental Association, the Journal of Dental Hygiene and organizations such as the National Diabetes Education Program, National Maternal & Child Oral Health Resource Center and the American Dental Educators Association (ADEA). Lisa is a published author in dental textbooks and peer reviewed journals on multiple topics pertaining to diet, nutrition and oral health and the practical application to whole body health for dietetic and dental professionals. She coauthored the Nutrition Curriculum for the revised 2015 edition of the ADEA Curriculum Guidelines for Allied Dental Education Programs. Additionally, she served as primary author for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Practice Paper on Oral Health and Nutrition. She is the recipient of the 2014 Excellence in Nutrition Education of Health Professionals award and the 2016 Texas Dental Hygiene Directors’ Association/Proctor & Gamble Teaching Excellence Award. Lisa presents educational lectures both nationally and internationally.