Dental-medical summit runs March 4-5 in Kennewick

A groundbreaking summit of medical and dental professionals runs March 4-5 in Kennewick.

The Eastern Washington Medical-Dental Health Summit is in its third year. “The concept is bringing medicine and dentistry together, both institutionally and at a practicing level,” said Dr. Lee Ostler, a Tri-City dentist and board member and past president of the American Academy for Oral Systemic Health. “It seems over the years, the mouth and body have become separated somehow in the training fields. We’re trying to put it back together.”

This year’s event includes a focus on cancer, with sessions on oral oncology and managing oral side effects of cancer treatment.

The event is presented by the Benton-Franklin Community Health Alliance, the bicounty health district and the Benton-Franklin Counties Dental Society. The Tri-Cities Cancer Center also helped develop the program.

The dental-medical partnership is critical, said Dr. Juno Choe from the cancer center. “Dentists can find things early – sores, masses. They are sort of at the front lines” in head and neck cancer detection, he said, adding they also play an important role in treatment.

“It’s all about the patient in terms of what we’re trying to accomplish, said Chuck DeGooyer, cancer center CEO.

Today’s event runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and includes sessions on topics from integrating medical and dental care to diabetes and oral health. The Saturday session is 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and focuses on oral health and cancer.

Continuing education credits are available for the event. It will be held at the Three Rivers Convention Center.

For more information or to sign up, go to www.medicaldentalsummit.com.

This story was originally published March 3, 2016 at 7:31 PM with the headline "Dental-medical summit runs March 4-5 in Kennewick."