Leslie-Ann Fitzpatrick | DMD, MPH
Leslie-Anne Fitzpatrick, DMD, MPH, Dr. Fitz as she is affectionately known to her patients, is passionate about providing exceptional and comprehensive dental care for patients of all ages. She is a strong advocate for approaching dentistry through the lens of the oral systemic link and she promotes patient-centered care that goes beyond the oral cavity. Dr. Fitzpatrick continually strives for excellence in dentistry, and is known for her gentle and caring approach to treating her patients. She is the owner of a beautiful, state-of-the-art dental practice in Petworth, Washington, DC.
Dr. Fitzpatrick currently serves on the Resident Advisory Committee for the Dental Public Health Residency Program at Jacobi Medical Center, providing perspective and strategic input to support curriculum development, program quality, and resident advocacy. She is also an active member of the American Dental Association and the DC Dental Society.
Hormones, Health, and the Mouth: A Life-Course Approach to Women’s Oral Wellness
Women experience unique oral health conditions influenced by hormonal fluctuations and systemic changes occurring across the life course. From puberty and reproductive years through pregnancy, menopause, and aging, variations in estrogen, progesterone, and other hormones impact oral tissues, inflammatory responses, periodontal health, caries risk, and salivary function. These oral changes are closely linked with systemic conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, pregnancy-related complications, and chronic inflammation.
This evidence-based course uses a life-course framework to examine how hormonal and systemic factors influence women’s oral health at key stages of life. The course explores scientific evidence related to oral-systemic connections in women, with particular attention to periodontal disease, pregnancy-related oral health considerations, menopause-associated oral changes, and implications for chronic disease management.
The course emphasizes practical, clinically relevant strategies for risk assessment, prevention, patient communication, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Attendees will gain actionable tools to improve clinical decision-making, enhance preventive care, and support optimal oral and overall health outcomes for female patients across the lifespan.
Educational Objectives:
Describe the effects of hormonal changes across the female life course on oral tissues, periodontal health, and inflammatory processes.
Identify oral health conditions commonly associated with puberty, pregnancy, menopause, and aging in female patients.
Understand evidence-based oral-systemic relationships relevant to women’s health, including associations with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, pregnancy outcomes, osteoporosis, and chronic inflammation.
Apply preventive, diagnostic, and patient education strategies tailored to women at different life stages.
Incorporate life-course oral health considerations into comprehensive, patient-centered dental care.
