Appropriate Analgesic Prescribing for the General Dentist

Credit Details
This electronically delivered self-instructional program is designated for 1.5 hours of CE credit by Farran Media.
AGD Code: 132.

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

Synopsis:

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, you should be able to:

• 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.

Description of Speaker:
Dr. Mark Donaldson received his baccalaureate degree from the University of British Columbia and his Doctorate in Clinical Pharmacy from the University of Washington. He completed a residency at Vancouver General Hospital, and has practiced as a clinical pharmacy specialist, clinical coordinator and director of pharmacy services at many healthcare organizations in both Canada and the United States. He is currently the Director of Clinical Pharmacy Performance Services for Vizient, in Whitefish, Montana.

Dr. Donaldson is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Pharmacy at the University of Montana in Missoula, and Clinical Associate Professor in the School of Dentistry at the Oregon Health & Sciences University in Portland, Oregon. He has a special interest in dental pharmacology and has lectured internationally to both dental and medical practitioners. He has spent the last 18 years focusing on dental pharmacology and dental therapeutics, and is a leader in the field.

Dr. Donaldson has published numerous peer-reviewed works and textbook chapters. He currently serves on the Editorial Board for the Journal of the American Dental Association, is board certified in healthcare management and is the Past-President of the American College of Healthcare Executives’ Montana Chapter. Dr. Donaldson was named as the 2014 recipient of the Bowl of Hygeia for the state of Montana and is the 2016 recipient of the Dr. Thaddeus V. Weclew Award. This award is conferred upon an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the art and science of dentistry and/or enhanced the principles and ideals of the Academy of General Dentistry.

Disclosure:
The speaker declares that neither he nor any member of his family have a financial arrangement or affiliation with any corporate organization offering financial support or grant monies for this continuing dental education program nor has a financial arrangement with any product or service mentioned in this course. The speaker discloses that he has a financial interest in consulting dental professionals in the subject matter that he is lecturing on.

Legal Disclaimer:
The CE provider (Farran Media) uses reasonable care in selecting and providing content that is accurate. The CE provider, however, does not independently verify the content or materials. The CE provider does not represent that the instructional materials are error-free or that the content or materials are comprehensive. Any opinions expressed in the materials are those of the author of the materials and not the CE provider. Completing one or more continuing education courses does not provide sufficient information to qualify the participant as an expert in the field related to the course topic or in any specific technique or procedure. The instructional materials are intended to supplement, but are not a substitute for, the knowledge, expertise, skill and judgment of a trained health care professional.

Licensure:
Continuing education credits issued for completion of online CE courses may not apply toward license renewal in all licensing jurisdictions. It is the responsibility of each registrant to verify the CE requirements of his/her licensing or regulatory agency.

State CE Requirements:
Click Here for CE requirements by state. Please note that this information is current as of the time of listing. This information is subject to change at any time from the state boards. For the most up-to-date information, please contact your state board directly.

Refund Policy
There are no refunds for Online CE courses. Please contact technical support if you run into technical difficulty.

CE Contact
For any questions, please contact Nareg Apelian, DMD, Director of Continuing Education at nareg@farranmedia.com