"Hurts So...Swell!"
Management of Acute Dental Pain and Appropriate Opioid Prescrbing Practices
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 an overview of effective dental pain management and identification of addiction. Special emphasis will also be given to appropriate practices of prescribing opioids and individualized patient care planning.
Course Release Date: 3/1/2022
Course Review Date: N/A (new course)
Course Expiration Date: 3/1/2024
Refund Policy: Since the intellectual property contained in this online course is made available on-demand immediately after purchase, no refunds will be issued for this course after purchase.
Upon successful completion of this program, participants will be able to:
- 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.
- 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.
“So much practical information! So many, many laughs! You held my attention every second! I’m blown away!”
“Thank you for making me laugh AND learn! Only you could make dental pharmacology THIS enjoyable and useful!”
This is by far the BEST presentation I’ve been to in 30 years of practice! I didn’t want it to end! Really!!!
~ R.L., Hinman Dental Meeting
Thomas Viola is a board-certified pharmacist who also serves the professions of dentistry as a clinical educator, professional speaker and published author, in the areas of oral pharmacology and local anesthesia.
Tom is a member of the faculty of 16 dental professional degree programs and has received several awards for outstanding teacher of the year. Tom is well known nationally and internationally for his regular contributions to several dental professional journals. Through his informative, humorous and engaging live seminars and webinars, Tom has earned his reputation as the go-to specialist for making dental pharmacology practical and useful for all members of the dental team.
