Tennessee Dental Hygienists' Association

The Crisis of Opioid Drug Abuse in the United States

According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Bureau of Vital Statistics the crude death rate for drug (opioid) overdose for the 12-month period ending with 2016 Q2 was 17.5 per 100,000 persons.

Course Objective

  • Identify the extent of the opioid crisis in America.
  • Describe the impact of opioid prescriptions related to oral pain.
  • List drugs that reduce the efficacy of opioid analgesia, such as antidepressants.
  • List American Dental Association guidelines for dentists who prescribe opioids for oral pain.
  • Review scientific evidence related to benefits of using narcotics for oral pain.
  • Identify drug options for relief of acute dental pain
  • Author(s)

    Frieda Pickett, RDH, MS

    CE Credits Earned

    2

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