Responsible Opioid Prescribing for the Dental Practitioner

Virtual Course through Zoom

CEUs: 1 

Course Description: The presentation will discuss the scope and responsibilities of prescription writing privileges as it applies to the practice of dentistry. Pharmacologic pain management options available to dentists will be reviewed including opioids and non-opioids. The principles of oral dosing regimens will be presented along with side effects, contraindications and clinically significant drug-drug interactions. Basic pain physiology will be discussed as well as the mechanisms of action of commonly prescribed analgesics. The dentist’s responsibility in combating drug diversion will be presented including how to identify drug seeking patients.

Learning objectives:

• Review the standard of care relating to responsible prescribing practices.
• Understand the efficacy and opioid-sparing benefits of prescribing Non-Opioids
• How to identify patients with Opioid Use Disorder
• Learn how to counsel patients about the side effects, security, addictive nature and proper storage and disposal of controlled substances.
• Understand the legal and ethical issues of prescribing appropriate quantities of controlled substances.