M.A.T.E. Module 4: Going beyond the initial perfect post

Providing dental care to anxious, fearful and medically-complex patients continues to be a major challenge facing dentists. Despite advances in management techniques and treatment delivery, patients’ preexisting opinions and experiences contribute to dental anxiety, fear and avoidance. Feelings of apprehension create psychological obstacles that prevent dental patients from seeking and receiving care and once they do, the dentist is then faced with treating their oral health needs in the face of multiple chronic diseases, medications, herbal supplements and more. The simple approach to, “drilling and filling” has just been cranked up a few more notches. This foundational program reviews the basics of pharmacology with a particular focus on the postoperative dental realm. The goal of making dental pharmacology interesting and useful at chairside beginning on Monday morning will be emphasized in accordance with the DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act which follows the recently published follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain. Analgesic differentiation will be clearly described in order to enhance your opportunity to match the right drug at the right dose for the right patient and the right procedure – especially since the definition of pain is, “whatever the patient says it is.” After all, our goal is to make sure all dental appointments are not just successful for your patient, but also for you and your staff.