Introduction- 4

DTC advertising has indirectly impacted dental professionals. Clients treated in dental care settings are taking new medications prescribed by their physicians, as a direct result of aggressive marketing campaigns targeted at physicians to try newer, "improved" or ''better" drugs. For example, Procardia^{® b}, One of the original calcium channel blockers commonly prescribed to manage angina and hypertension, is now often substituted with Norvasc^{® b}, the newest calcium channel blocker on the market, both of which are manufactured by Pfizer. Notification of FDA approval of Periostat^{® d} appeared in every major syndicated newspaper in the United States, directly raising consumer awareness of the first systemic drug marketed specifically to combat periodontal disease. More than ever before, keeping abreast of these new medications and marketing trends challenge dental professionals to obtain the latest pharmacology information.