Pain Management in Dentistry: Non-Opioid Strategies

Effective pain management is a cornerstone of dental practice and significantly influences patient trust, treatment acceptance, and overall clinical outcomes. Dental professionals routinely encounter acute and chronic orofacial pain conditions requiring timely, evidence-based, and patient-centered management strategies. However, variability in prescribing practices, limited training in multimodal pain control, and ongoing concerns related to opioid stewardship have created a need for enhanced continuing education in contemporary pain management approaches. This continuing professional development program provides an evidence-based overview of pain mechanisms in dentistry and current best practices for managing dental pain using non-opioid and multimodal strategies. Participants will explore clinical decision-making frameworks for analgesic selection, appropriate use of NSAIDs and acetaminophen, local anesthetic considerations, and adjunctive therapies. Emphasis is placed on optimizing patient outcomes while minimizing risks associated with opioid exposure and overreliance on pharmacologic interventions. Substitutes/Refunds/Transfers - Cancellations must be in writing (fax, email, or mail) - Registrants cancelling between two weeks and two full business days prior to the first day of the event are refunded at 70% of the registration fee subject to a minimum $25 cancellation fee. - No refunds or credits will be given for cancellations received less than two full business days prior to the event. - Cancellations greater than 2 weeks prior to the event will receive 100% refund. - No vouchers will be issued in lieu of a refund. - Transfers/substitute(s) welcome at discretion of Program Director. - Attendance at this activity grants permission for Southern Regional AHEC to use any photographs, audio, video, or other images from this activity for promotional or educational purposes. Please notify an AHEC staff member if you have concerns