Course Description: Management of acute dental pain is accomplished through a clinical approach
that successfully incorporates opioid and non-opioid analgesics. However, this normally occurs outside
the dental office, away from our immediate supervision and we are often faced with the difficult task of
managing patient pain while also avoiding adverse outcomes for both our patient and our communities.
Thus, it is critical for clinicians to accurately identify the need for pain control and associated risks, and to
assess the efficacy of analgesic agents to be administered.
This program will provide strategies for dental pain management and individualized care planning,
as well as techniques for identification of addiction, that all members of the dental team (dentists,
hygienists, assistants and staff) will find useful.
• Describe the pharmacology and mechanism of action of opioid and non-opioid analgesics.
• Explain the intended role of opioid and nonopioid analgesics in the management of acute dental pain, as well as situations which may preclude their use, based on a patient's underlying medical conditions.
• Describe techniques useful in developing individualized pain management plans as well as strategies useful in identifying potential opioid addiction.
• Discuss appropriate prescribing practices for opioid analgesics to utilize in everyday clinical situations.
AUDIENCE:
• Dental Hygienists, Dentists, Dental Assistants
• 9:30 — 12:30 (1st Speaker) (3 CE Credits )
THOMAS A. VIOLA, R.Ph., C.C.P.
Dental Pharmacology Speaker, Teacher, Consultant, Author
