Management of acute odontogenic pain is accomplished through a clinical approach that successfully incorporates both opioid and non-opioid analgesics. It is critical for dental clinicians to not only employ appropriate prescribing practices when utilizing opioid and non-opioid analgesics to treat pain, but to also apply best practices when assessing pain control and educating patients on opioid-associated risks and opioid safety. This program will provide an overview of techniques for effectively assessing and managing dental pain, appropriately prescribing analgesics, and educating patients on adverse effects and proper handling of opioid medications, as well as strategies for identifying patients at risk for substance abuse and counseling patients on agents used in the management and treatment of opioid use disorder.
Learning Objectives:
Describe the pharmacology and mechanism of action of opioid and non-opioid analgesics.
Explain the intended role of opioid and non-opioid 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.
Discuss appropriate prescribing practices for opioid analgesics to utilize in everyday clinical situations.
Describe techniques that are useful in developing individualized pain management plans as well as strategies useful in identifying potential opioid addiction and counseling treatments.