Lunch Sessions: Pills, Pain, and Patients: What the Dental Team Needs to Know
"Pills, Pain, and Patients: What the Dental Team Needs to Know" - Tom Viola, MA, BSDH, RDH
CEUs: 1
Course Description:
Dental pain walks through the door every single day—and pain medications are often part of the plan. Although not every professional in the dental office writes prescriptions, they are on the front lines of patient care: reviewing health histories, spotting red flags, answering questions, and sometimes being the first to notice when something isn’t right. This course breaks down both non-opioid and opioid analgesics in a way that’s practical, relevant, and designed specifically for the whole dental team. We’ll explore how these medications work, when they’re typically used, what can go wrong, and what we need to watch for. From common side effects to serious safety concerns like drug interactions, misuse, and overdose, this course focuses on what we need to know to protect our patients and feel confident when dental pain management becomes part of the conversation.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand how non-opioid and opioid pain medications work and why they’re used in dental care.
- Recognize common dental analgesics and their typical roles in managing mild, moderate, and severe dental pain.
- Identify side effects, contraindications, and interactions that matter in the dental office.
- Spot warning signs of medication misuse, adverse reactions, and potential overdose.
Dates:
Tuesday, April 7th at 12:00PM-1:00PM
Wednesday, August 5th at 12:00PM-1:00PM
Thursday, October 1st 1:00PM-2:00PM
