The Opioid Epidemic and Dentistry

Prescription opioids, heroin and fentanyl use is increasing in the United States along with addiction overdose and death. More people died of drug addiction in the United States in recent years than ever before. Nearly half of all opioid overdose deaths involve a prescription opioid. This course reviews the history of the opioid epidemic while also looking at dentistry's role in the opioid epidemic. Management of acute and postoperative pain will be discussed along with safe prescribing techniques to avoid abuse and diversion.

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Recognize dentistry's role in the opioid epidemic.
• Understand ways to better manage acute and postoperative dental pain.
• Adopt prescribing techniques to avoid abuse and diversion of controlled substances.

Dr. Kathlyn Powell, DMD, MD received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Sciences from Auburn University. She graduated with a DMD from the University of Alabama School of Dental Medicine and subsequently completed her MD and OMS residency training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham/UAB Hospital. She then completed a fellowship in pediatric oral and maxillofacial surgery under the direction of Dr. Peter Waite. She is an assistant professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham where she practices at the Children's of Alabama Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic and the UAB Oral and Facial Surgery Clinic of Hoover. She also spends time teaching at the UAB School of Dentistry. She serves as the director of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic at Children's of Alabama and the Program Director of the UAB Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Training Program.