Controlled Substance Prescriptions in Dentistry

At the conclusion of this continuing education activity, the participant will be able to:

1. Describe the origins and scope of the current opioid crisis in the United States

2. Identify current trends in opioid prescribing in the dental profession

3. Identify the various types of opioid medications and their mechanisms of action

4. Describe how opioids affect the body and the brain

5. Describe the most common pain medications used in dentistry

6. Distinguish between opioid tolerance, dependence, and addiction

7. Describe the symptoms of opioid withdrawal

8. Distinguish between opioid agonists, agonist-antagonists, and antagonists

9. Identify the most common sources of opioid misuse and diversion.

10. Describe steps that dentists can take to ensure the safe handling, storage, and prescription of opioid medications

11. Describe the importance of screening for substance disorders in dental practice

12. Describe the function and impact of prescription drug monitoring programs in curbing opioid misuse and diversion

13. Outline the American Dental Association’s stance on the use of opioids in the treatment of dental pain

Controlled Substance Prescriptions in Dentistry: State Mandate

Target Audience: Dentists who prescribe, administer, or dispense controlled substances, and the hygienists and assistants who work alongside them. Written for the state controlled substance and opioid prescribing mandates, not as a general pharmacology review.

Credit Type: 2 contact hours. AGD PACE approved provider (ID# 386503). Approved by the Florida Board of Dentistry, Dental Board of California, Alabama Board of Dental Examiners, and the Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia boards. AGD PACE approval does not imply acceptance by any regulatory authority or AGD endorsement.

Course Length: 2 hours, online, self-paced, unlimited post-test attempts. Certificate issued immediately. Reported to CE Broker within 24 business hours where your board uses it (Florida and Tennessee among dental boards); elsewhere, your certificate is your proof.

State requirements this course satisfies

Thirty-nine states now require controlled substance or opioid prescribing CE for dentists. This course covers the full requirement in the states below with 2 hours or less, and 2 of the hours in states that require 3 or more.

Covers the full requirement (2 hours or less, every renewal unless noted)

• Florida dentists: 2 hours Safe and Effective Controlled Substance Prescribing, every renewal including the first. Board-approved provider required; AchieveCE is approved. Part of the Florida Dentist CE Package

• California dentists: 2 hours Schedule II opioid prescribing, every renewal. Board-approved provider required; AchieveCE is approved by the Dental Board of California.

• Tennessee dentists: 2 hours Prescribing Controlled Substances including the Tennessee Chronic Pain Guidelines, every renewal. Part of the Tennessee Dentist CE Package

• Colorado dentists: 1 hour controlled substance or opioid prescribing, every renewal (exempt if you attest to no opioid prescribing).

• Georgia dentists: 1 hour opioid prescribing, every renewal.

• New Jersey dentists: 1 hour prescription opioids, every renewal.

• North Carolina dentists: 1 hour controlled substance prescribing, annually, if you prescribe.

• Utah dentists: 2 hours controlled substance prescribing, every renewal, for Utah Controlled Substance License holders (the one-time 3.5-hour SBIRT course is separate).

• Vermont dentists: 2 hours controlled substances and opioid prescribing, every renewal, for DEA registrants.

• Wisconsin dentists: 2 hours prescribing controlled substances for dental pain, every renewal, all dentists.

• Oklahoma dentists: 2 hours opioid and scheduled drug prescribing, every cycle.

Covers 2 of the required hours

• Texas dentists: 4 hours Safe and Effective Pain Management, every renewal. This course plus the one-time

  DEA MATE 8-hour training (2 hours of which Texas credits) covers it.

• Michigan dentists: 3 hours pain and symptom management every 3-year renewal; this course covers 2. Part of the

  Michigan Dentist CE Package

• Kentucky dentists: 3 hours KASPER, pain management, and addiction plus 1 hour pediatric ingestion of controlled substances; this course covers 2 of the 3.

• Mississippi dentists: 3 hours opioid prescribing every renewal if you prescribe; this course covers 2.

• Louisiana dentists: 3 hours opioid management, one time; this course covers 2.

• New Hampshire dentists: 3 CEUs pain management and addiction disorder every renewal; this course covers 2.

• Montana dentists: no state mandate; counts as general CE.

• Also 3 hours in Arizona, Illinois, Maine, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Washington (one time), West Virginia (one time, new licensees), and Wyoming; this course covers 2 of the 3.