December 2025 Faculty In-Service_The Intersection of Oral Health and Recovery
About This Event
Substance use disorders (SUD) impact millions of individuals in the United States, and their oral health needs are often overlooked or misunderstood within dental settings. This 1.5-hour continuing education course will explore the intersection between oral health and recovery, providing dental and dental hygiene faculty with knowledge and strategies to better educate students and care for patients in recovery.
Participants will gain an understanding of how commonly used substances, including opioids, stimulants, alcohol, and tobacco, affect the oral cavity, teeth, and soft tissues. The course will clarify the neurobiological basis of addiction as a chronic disease, not a moral failing, and discuss how stigma and bias influence patient-provider interactions and treatment outcomes.
Through the lens of trauma-informed, patient-centered, and recovery-oriented care, this session will present evidence-based recommendations for managing patients in recovery, from modifying pain control protocols to fostering trust and communication in the operatory. The role of Peer Recovery Specialists (PRS) will be highlighted as a bridge between clinical providers and the recovery community, emphasizing their effectiveness as trusted messengers for oral health education and engagement.
By the end of this session, participants will be equipped to model compassionate, clinically appropriate, and socially responsive care in both their teaching and patient management practices.
Learning Objectives
- Define substance use disorder (SUD) and describe its neurobiological, behavioral, and social dimensions as a chronic disease process rather than a moral or character issue.
- Identify the oral and systemic manifestations of commonly used substances, including opioids, methamphetamine, cocaine, alcohol, and tobacco, and explain their short- and long-term effects on oral tissues and dentition.
- Recognize the impact of stigma and bias on patient engagement, disclosure, and treatment adherence, and apply communication strategies that promote trust and reduce shame in clinical and educational settings.
- Apply trauma-informed and recovery-sensitive approaches to clinical care, including patient communication, pain management, treatment planning, and follow-up protocols.
- Discuss appropriate pain control and medication management considerations for patients in recovery or currently receiving medication-assisted treatment (e.g., buprenorphine/Suboxone®
- , methadone, or naltrexone).
- Describe the role of Peer Recovery Specialists (PRS) in bridging oral health and behavioral health systems, and identify opportunities for collaboration in patient education, referral, and outreach.