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Event Details

  • Pharmacologic Management of Acute Dental Pain and the Prescription Opioid Epidemic

    Friday, March 7, 2025

    Registration: 2:00 pm

    Lecture: 2:30 - 4:30 pm

    CEUs: 2.0


    Massachusetts Dental Society

    2 Willow Street, Suite 200

    Southborough, MA


    Proper implementation of prescription writing skills is a critical aspect of patient care in today's climate of opioid abuse and enhanced prescribing regulations. The attendee 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 pain management. The principles of oral dosing regimens will be presented along with side effects, contraindications and clinically significant drug-drug interactions. 

  • After successfully completing this course, you will be able to:

    • - Review analgesic prescribing guidelines in connection with the effective management of acute dental pain
    • - Discuss the origin of the prescription opioid epidemic and dentistry’s role in promoting responsible opioid prescribing
    • - Explain how to counsel patients about the side effects, security, addictive nature and proper storage and disposal of controlled substances
    • - Determine the legal and ethical issues of prescribing appropriate quantities of controlled substances
    • - Understand the basic pharmacology and side effects of opioid and non-opioid analgesics


  • Speaker:

    Richard Harold, DMD, JD: served as a Full Professor at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston prior to becoming a dental-legal consultant, expert witness, author and national speaker. Dr. Harold received his DMD degree from Tufts University, his JD from New England School of Law and his BS in pharmacy from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy. Prior to joining the faculty at Tufts University, Dr. Harold owned and operated a general dentistry practice. Dr. Harold served as a consultant to the American Dental Association Council on Dental Practice during 2018-19 and participated in an initiative to develop a comprehensive resource on dental practice risk management. The work product of the initiative serves as the basis for the ADA Guidelines for Practice Success module on Managing Risk and is available online at www.ADA.org/gps .


  • Price:

    MDS Dentist/Auxiliary Member: Complimentary 

    Non-MDS Member: $175


    Course Type:

    Lecture
  • Massachusetts Dental Society
Recommended Audience
  • Dental Student; Dentist; Hygienist
CEUs
  • 2.0
Notice
  • CE Certificates will be emailed within 1 week from the event.
Financial Disclosure
  • Richard Harold, DMD, JD has no financial relationships relevant to this presentation to disclose.
Cancellation Policy
  • Refunds can be made online up to 10 days prior to the class. You will receive a full refund minus a $10 processing fee. There are no refunds less than 10 days out including cancelations due to illness, late arrivals or weather. Full refund will be given if your class is cancelled for any reason by MDS. Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for processing. There is no refund for courses once the course begins. Registrants will be notified by e-mail if the course is canceled due to inclement weather or for any other reason by MDS. The e-mail will be sent to the e-mail address used to register.