Mental Health/Substance Use Disorder Considerations for Dental Professionals and Safe Opioid Prescribing

Description

This combination 2-hour lecture/discussion-based live webinar will cover two required CE topics: Mental Health/ Substance Use Disorder (SUD) for Dental Healthcare Professionals, and Safe Opioid Prescribing for Dentists.

The first hour will cover Mental Health/SUD Considerations in dental settings. It is designed to meet the biannual required CE for dentists and dental hygienists who practice in North Carolina.

Per the NCBDE: Current dental and dental hygiene licensees must complete a one-hour continuing education course every two years on the subject of substance abuse and mental health. For reference, dentists see 21 NCAC 16R .0206, and dental hygienists see 21 NCAC 16I .0206. This one-hour course is to be counted among the number of CE hours currently required and DOES NOT add hours to the current requirement.

The second hour will focus on Safe Opioid Prescribing. To improve patient outcomes, effective pain management is a key consideration to guide dental prescribing and perioperative care. This class includes an evidence-based analysis of the relative effectiveness of medications and their side effects, recommendations on how to improve treatment of acute and chronic pain and recognize substance use/opioid use disorders. It will focus on dental-specific pain treatments/prescribing that can decrease the likelihood of long-term use.

Content has been developed in accordance with the recommendations from the DEA and SAMHSA for the Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act. This requirement applies to physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, podiatrists, dentists, and other practitioners that prescribe controlled substances who are applying for or renewing their DEA license after June 27, 2023.

This program was designed to satisfy, in part, the North Carolina Medical Board's CME requirement for controlled substance prescribers. Per NCAC rules: As of July 1, 2017 all physicians (other than residents), physician assistants, nurse practitioners, podiatrists, and dentists who prescribe controlled substances, must satisfy the controlled-substance prescribing CE requirements as set forth by their licensing boards; requirements vary by discipline and board.

Target Audience

Dentists and Dental Hygienists

Objectives

At the conclusion of the course, the participant will be able to:

• Describe healthy coping and stress reduction strategies for mental health resilience in dentistry
• Identify resources for substance use disorder issues
• Describe the impact of the opioid crisis
• Identify the CDC and ADA guidelines for prescribing for acute & chronic pain and the STOP Act
• Discuss effective opioid alternatives and policies for safe opioid prescribing

Faculty

• Blake Fagan, MD