March 3, 2020 Feature Geriatric DentistryOral Health

The Opioid Crisis and Dentistry: Alternatives for the Management of Acute Post-Operative Dental Pain

by Andrew Lombardi; Sarah Lam; Dr. Aviv Ouanounou

Abstract The dental profession represents a significant player in the future trajectory of the current opioid crisis. Exercising sound clinical judgement and adhering to evidence-based principles of pain management are essential. The aim of the present report is to review…

March 3, 2020 Feature EditorialGeneral DentistryOral Health

The Opioid Crisis

by Marina Polonsky, DDS, MSc

Remember a few years back, when a new regulation came into effect that required us to ask our patients for a piece of ID when we wanted to prescribe something as common as Tylenol #3? Personally, I thought, “Oh sure,…

February 5, 2020 News News

More Than Half of Dental Prescriptions for Opioids Exceed Pain-Management Guidelines, Study Finds

by Technology.org

A new study suggests that roughly half of the opioid prescriptions written by dentists in the United States exceed the three-day supply recommended by federal dental pain-management guidelines. The research also showed that during the five-year study period, a more…

October 29, 2019 News News

A New System To Measure Pain More Accurately Could Help Fight The Opioid Addiction Crisis

by Roberto Molar Candanosa, Northeastern University

Struggling to assess pain based on a zero-to-ten scale is not an uncommon issue when doctors treat patients, especially because the concept of how painful something is can vary from person to person. It’s difficult to put a number on…

October 24, 2019 News News

Region Of Durham Calls For Provincial And Federal Investment, Action And Partnership To Address The Opioid Crisis

by Durham Region

The Region of Durham is urging the governments of Canada and Ontario to recognize, acknowledge and declare a national health epidemic to help address the provincial and nation-wide opioid overdose crisis with an Opioid Overdose Emergency Resolution. The resolution, which…

October 17, 2019 News News

Top Drug Distributors In Talks To Settle Opioid Litigation For $18 Billion, Report Says

by CNBC

State and local officials are reportedly in talks with three major drug distributors on a potential $18 billion settlement of litigation that blames them for helping to fuel the U.S. opioid epidemic. The potential settlement, according to The Wall Street Journal,…

October 13, 2019 News News

Dentists Closely Watching Pain Management Study

by News 3 Las Vegas

The National Institute of Health is putting its money where its mouth is in the opioid crisis by shelling out nearly $12 million for a long-term study to determine if non-addictive pain medication like acetaminophen and ibuprofen are as effective…

October 7, 2019 News News

Two ‘Dirty Docs’ Sentenced For Adding To The Opioid Crisis

by 13 News Now

Two Virginia doctors were sentenced in separate illegal prescription-writing schemes Wednesday. Combined, prosecutors said they were responsible for adding more than half a million pills to the opioid crisis. Gary Hartman, a Virginia Beach dentist, will spend the next nearly…

September 19, 2019 News News

In Effort To Curb Opioid Crisis, Oral Surgeons Find Other Methods To Treat Pain

by 13Wham

Dr. John Vorassi, an oral surgeon with the Eastman Institute of Oral Health, says he and his doctors are now trying to prescribe fewer opioids to patients. Vorassi describes the shift in treating post-oral surgery pain in the last five…

September 9, 2019 News News

Mark Wahlberg Shares Passion For Curbing Opioid Abuse

by ADA

Oscar-nominated actor and producer Mark Wahlberg has suffered the loss of friends from the opioid crisis. “I’ve known people who you’d never think would ever be interested in any kind of drug use but had an accident or surgery and…

January 9, 2019 News Oral Health

Minnesota Dental Association Releases Opioid Support Materials for Dentists and Patients

by Manitoba Dental Association

The Minnesota Dental Association (MDA) has published a new brochure on pain management and the dangers of opioid use. The patient brochure educates on the dangers of opioid use and offers information on opioid alternatives as well as storing and…