Safe and Effective Prescribing of Controlled Substances in the Dental Practice

Course overview

Participants will discuss aspects of controlled substance prescribing as it relates to the prevention of potential abuse. At the conclusion of this activity, participants will be able to: 1) Discuss the history and factors involved in the opioid abuse epidemic 2) Review the pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of controlled substances commonly used in the dental practice 3) List the various opioids most commonly used in the dental practice 4) Review the recommendations set forth by the American Dental Association with regard to controlled substance utilization 5) Review signs and symptoms of substance abuse and drug-seeking behavior 6) Discuss drug testing and the various false positives / false negatives that may occur 7) Review how dentists can access their state Prescription Drug Monitoring Program 8) Describe the differences between tolerance, dependency and addiction 9) List office strategies to prevent diversion and ensure safety when storing controlled substances.