Appropriate Analgesic Prescribing for the General Dentist

Appropriate Analgesic Prescribing for the General Dentist is organized by Dentaltown, L.L.C.

Released: 10/26/2016
Expiration Date: 06/30/2025

Overview:
In 2010, Wouldn’t it be great to be known as the dentist who offers excellent pain-free, post-operative care without the use of narcotics? Wouldn’t you like to be more confident in all of your prescription writing, knowing that you are on the cutting edge, that you are evidence-based and that you are guideline-driven? This is that program. In 2010, enough opioids were sold to medicate each American adult at a dose of 5mg of hydrocodone every four hours for one month. In 2011, the number of overdose deaths from painkillers more than tripled over a decade - a trend that a U.S. health official called an epidemic. By 2012 the National Center for Health Statistics reported that, “prescription painkillers have now surpassed car accidents as the leading cause of accidental death in the United States.” You do not want to be part of this problem. Remember the Spiderman Principle that, “with great power there must also come – great responsibility.” Since pain secondary to dentistry is due to inflammation, and narcotics are not anti-inflammatory agents, opioid-containing analgesic agents should not be part of your routine armamentarium in managing postoperative dental pain. To this end, statewide electronic databases known as Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs track all controlled substance prescriptions and in many cases now require consultation by dental prescribers if an opioid containing analgesic is to be initiated on a patient.

By taking this important continuing education program you become a better prescriber and you will learn the ideal analgesic recipe to manage (almost) all of your patients pain: first time, every time. More importantly, this evidence-based, guideline-driven program will give you actionable material to begin implementing immediately. Given the renewed focus on the war on licit drugs, you do not want to become the target of any investigation into misprescribing and you certainly do not want to add to the current problem of opioid access and abuse. Learn how to match the right drug at the right dose for the right patient now– because it is the right thing to do.

Educational Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to achieve the following:
• Discuss the pathophysiology of pain as it relates to dentistry.
• Understand the ideal analgesic recipe to manage (almost) all of your patients pain - first time, every time.
• Explain why narcotic-containing analgesics should not be routinely prescribed for post-operative dental pain
• Describe the mechanism of action of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications
• Discuss the importance of consulting one's state Prescription Drug Therapy Monitoring Program.

Note: The fee to view this course is $36. This cost includes the fee to take the exam and claim your CE credits.

1.5 CE Credits