Dentist/ Dental Consultant The Dental Mediator/Pine Lake Law Firm Bloomington, Minnesota, United States
Disclosure(s):
Kimberly A. Harms, DDS: No financial relationships to disclose
With opioid abuse in the U.S. surging and deaths due to overdose skyrocketing, dentists are reluctant to prescribe opioids for dental pain. Properly prescribed non-opioid analgesics can be very effective but sometimes patients feel they are not enough to control their suffering. The resulting dance between the dentist who wants to prevent new addictions and the patient who feels abandoned in their pain can be extremely uncomfortable for both parties. This Presentation focuses on communication techniques designed to educate patients and dentists about chronic pain and pain management options.
Learning Objectives:
Learn the difference between acute and chronic pain and how to effectively manage both
Review the similarities and connections between physical and emotional pain in brain processing.
Explore the various causes and effects of opioid abuse and its long-term consequences
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