Opioid Addiction, Pharmacology and the Dentist’s Role in Responsible Prescribing

Opioid Addiction, Pharmacology and the Dentist’s Role in Responsible Prescribing is organized by Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine (NSUCDM) and will be held on Oct 15, 2025.

Description:
This clinically relevant presentation will help clinicians understand the extent and nature of the opioid crisis and how to identify patients who may be seeking your practice to satisfy their opioid addiction. The presentation will include the reasoning and pharmacological basis for using a multimodal post-operative pain management protocol. A predictable, analgesic protocol will be provided that begins the moment the dental or surgical procedure is completed and has most patients pain-free within 3 to 5 days, which rarely relies on the use of narcotics. Most Dental offices can become a narcotic-free zone without having patients suffer needlessly.

Objectives:
How extensive the opioid crisis is.

• How clinicians can identify patients who are at risk for opioid abuse.
• Government regulatory agencies' requirements for clinicians regarding what to do and know.
• Opioid pharmacology for pain relief and how it can lead to addiction.
• Methods for controlling immediate and delayed post-operative pain by utilizing pharmacological agents that block specific pain-generating pathways.
• When the use of glucocorticosteroids may be of value.

Takeaways:

• Participants will learn tips on how to avoid being the “Office to seek out if the patient wants narcotics”.
• Dental clinicians can predictably diminish post-operative pain by understanding and utilizing a non-addictive multimodal pain control protocol.
• Participants will be presented with pharmacological principles that can provide adequate and predictable post-operative analgesia without relying on narcotics.