Full Title: Pharmacologic Management of Acute Dental Pain & the Prescription Opioid Epidemic
Attendees will learn about the history of pain management and dentistry's responsibility in combating the prescription drug epidemic. The basics of choosing proper analgesics are reviewed so that the attendee will understand the standards of care as they pertain to dental pain management. Pharmacologic pain management utilizing opioids and non-opioids will be reviewed including their dosing regimens, 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.