Comprehensive Insights

Gain a deep understanding of how psychiatric medications affect dental health

Professional Guidance

Teach your patients practical tips to maintain oral health while undergoing psychiatric treatment

Expert Strategies

Discover strategies to prevent and address common dental issues associated with medication use

About the Course

Patients taking psychotropics are frequently counseled about weight gain, sedation, or sexual side effects. Far fewer are warned about xerostomia, bruxism, bleeding risk, caries acceleration, or medication-related movement disorders affecting the jaw and tongue. These gaps influence treatment adherence, long-term dental stability, nutritional status, speech and swallowing, sensory tolerance of oral care, and overall quality of life. Clinicians who understand this intersection are better positioned to reduce preventable harm and improve outcomes.

Meet Your Instructor

Hi, I’m Maria Ingalla.  First of all, I'd like to emphasize that I’m not a dentist. I’m a mental health clinician who kept seeing the same pattern in practice. Psychiatric medications affect the mouth. Dry mouth. Clenching. Bleeding risk. Infection concerns. These are not minor side effects. They shape comfort, adherence, and long-term health. Most of us were never trained to think about oral health when prescribing or monitoring psychotropics. That gap is real, and it is fixable. I created this course to help make that connection practical and clear. If you want to feel more confident spotting risks, having better conversations, and collaborating more effectively with dental colleagues, this training is for you. Let’s expand the way we think about psychiatric care, together.

Course Curriculum

8 Chapters · 52 Lessons

  1. 1

    Welcome to This Course!

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      How to use this course

    2. This is a course brought to you by Paperflower Institute Free preview
    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Meet Your Course Instructor!

    4. Psychiatric Medications and Dental Health Free preview
  2. 2

    Module 1: Introduction to Oral Health in Psychiatry

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Understanding the Basics

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      The Mental Health & Oral Health Intersection

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Systemic vs. Local Effects

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Classes of Psychiatric Medications and Dental Implications

  3. 3

    Module 2: Common Dental Concerns in Psychiatry

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Common Dental Issues Linked to Medications

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Xerostomia (Dry Mouth)

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Dental Caries

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Periodontal Disease

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Taste Disturbances

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Lamictal and Oral Ulcers

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Bruxism

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Gingival Hyperplasia

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Other Concerns

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Long-term Consequences

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      Considerations of Prescribing

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      Medication Risk Table

  4. 4

    Module 3: Maintaining & Improving Dental Health

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Daily Oral Care Strategies

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lifestyle and Diet Considerations

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      When to Refer

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      The Art of Collaboration

  5. 5

    Module 4: A Neuroaffirming & Trauma-Informed Approach

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Behavioral and Psychiatric Factors Affecting Oral Health

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Executive Dysfunction & Interoception, and Daily Oral Care

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Oral Stimming, Jaw Proprioception, and Oral Health

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      ARFID + Oral Health

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Sensory Issues & Oral Health

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Predictability, Fear of Change, and Dental Care Engagement

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Accommodations

  6. 6

    Module 5: Case Studies

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Case Example # 1

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Analysis of Case # 1

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Case Example #2

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Analysis of Case #2

  7. 7

    Lesson References

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Impact on Dental Health: Common Dental Issues Linked to Medications

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Future Considerations: Emerging Research

  8. 8

    Handouts

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      [Caregiver's Guide] A Parent's Guide to Meds and Mouth Health

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      [Caregiver's Guide] Supporting Nutrition, Mental Health, and Oral Health

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      [Caregiver's Guide] When Toothbrushing is Hard for ND Kids

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      [Caregiver's Guide] Quick‑Action Toolkit Eating, Mood, and Oral Health

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      [Caregiver's Guide] Quick-Glance Guide for Parents Dental Side Effects of Psychiatric Medications

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      [Patient's Guide] Daily Oral Care Strategies A Practical Guide for Everyday Health

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      [Patient's Guide] Psychiatric Medications and Your Dental Health

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      [Patient's Guide] Seeking Professional Help When Oral Health Falls Through the Cracks

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      [Patient's Guide] Psychiatric Medications and Your Dental Health: A Patient-Friendly Guide

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      [Patient's Guide] Visual Schedule: How To Brush Your Teeth

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      [Patient's Guide] Sensory Accommodations in Teeth Care

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      [Healthcare Worker's Guide] How Can We Help Our Patients With Bruxism A Practical Guide for Healthcare and Dental Professionals

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      [Healthcare Worker's Guide] Oral Health Risk Assessment in Psychiatric Practice

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      [Healthcare Worker's Guide] Psychiatric Medications and Oral Health: Three Key Areas to Screen

    15. (Included in full purchase)

      [Healthcare Worker's Guide] Oral Health Through the Lifespan: A Collaborative Guide for Healthcare and Dental Teams

Ready to Strengthen Your Clinical Practice?

Enroll now and gain the insight needed to protect your patients’ oral health while prescribing and monitoring psychiatric medications.

$40.00

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