Dentist, pharmacist collaborate on webinar on pharmacological management of dental pain

The ADA and Providers Clinical Support System are presenting a free webinar May 24 on how dental professionals can offer safe pharmacological management of acute dental pain, propose conversations and education for opioid use and misuse and the need for referral of patients and providers.

Pharmacological Approaches to Dental Pain Management: Navigating Substance Use Risk and Intervention will stream from noon-2 p.m. Central and is pending two hours of continuing education credit.

The ADA is a collaborating organization with the Providers Clinical Support System, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. It was created in response to the opioid overdose epidemic to train primary care providers in the evidence-based prevention and treatment of opioid use disorders and treatment of chronic pain.

The presenters are David Lesansky, D.M.D., and Kimberly Sanders, Pharm.D.

An ADA wellness ambassador, Dr. Lesansky said he is passionate about mental health issues and erasing the stigma surrounding them, having experienced wellness issues on both personal and family levels.

“My hope in presenting for this webinar is to educate dentists that our cohort of professionals is at risk for dependency on opioids, regardless of our increased knowledge and education compared to the general public,” Dr. Lesansky said. “It is a problem, though, for which help exists, and it’s my mission to raise awareness, remove the stigma and let dentists know that there are resources to guide them through the recovery process so their livelihoods don’t have to be destroyed by chemical dependencies.”

Dr. Sanders is a clinical assistant professor in the Division of Practice Advancement and Clinical Education at the University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy, along with a shared appointment as an assistant professor in the university’s Adams School of Dentistry. She also serves on North Carolina’s Dental Opioid Workgroup.

“As a pharmacist practicing in the dental setting, I'm excited to share additional perspective on pain management considerations to the dental audience,” Dr. Sanders said. “I feel this further speaks to the importance of team-based care and how we all play a role in making sure we're safely prescribing the most optimal medications for our patients based on their individual medical history. I think with what North Carolina is doing by having a specific dental opioid action plan initiative also makes sure we're bringing awareness to how crucial the role of dentistry is and making sure dental professionals feel they are informed and empowered to also take care of their fellow colleagues.”

To find additional resources from the ADA on opioid prescribing, visit ADA.org/Safeprescribing.