Dr. Benjamin Lai image

Dr. Benjamin Lai

Kate Dobler image

Kate Dobler

Dr. Gary Kirkilas image

Dr. Gary Kirkilas

Opioids and the Dental Industry (BODEX)

Saturday, 8:00am - 11:00am
Classroom:  Solana H&I
Meets BODEX requirement for Chemical Dependency

The opioid crisis is everyone's crisis. Despite a decade of national attention fueled by federal resources, state laws, mass education and prescribing modifications, trends that alarmed us then look worse now. This talk will prepare the dental industry to develop pain management plans that maximize non-opioid therapies, educate patients on how to use and store opioids safely, identify risk factors for overdose and addiction, and understand emerging trends in youth drug use along with their impact on dental issues. This curriculum is designed to meet the three-hour state opioid educational requirements for medical license renewal.

Learning Objectives:
• Review safe opioid prescribing practices including pain management alternatives
• Understand the neurobiology that drives addiction and medications for Opioid Use Disorder
• Discuss evolving trends in youth substance use disorders and their impact on dental health