Presented by: Justin Bonner, DDS Board Certified in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Safe and Effective Pain Management in the Dental Office
Eff. 01/01/2021 TSBDE Rule 104.1(B) requires “licensed dentist(s) whose practice includes direct patient care to completed not less than 2 hours of continuing education annually, and not less than 4 hours for each biennial renewal, regarding safe and effective pain management” NOTE: THIS CE REQUIREMENT IS NOT DEPENDENT ON WHETHER A DENTIST HOLDS A DEA REGISTRATION AND THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS FOR ORTHODONTISTS.
Course Description:
This course explores an integrated approach to dental pain management, combining surgical technique, pharmacologic strategies, and diagnostic reasoning. Learners will examine how clinical decisions—ranging from wound closure to analgesic selection—impact post-operative outcomes, while developing skills in differentiating pain sources and applying evidence-based, multimodal treatment strategies. Emphasis is placed on safe, effective pain control and responsible opioid stewardship to support optimal patient recovery.
Course Objectives:
- Analyze how surgical technique, including suturing and wound closure methods, impacts post-operative healing outcomes such as pain, swelling, trismus, and complication risk.
- Apply evidence-based pharmacologic and multimodal pain management strategies, including NSAIDs, acetaminophen, local anesthetics, and adjunctive therapies, to acute dental pain scenarios.
- Differentiate between odontogenic and non-odontogenic sources of dental pain to support accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment planning.
- Utilize clinical decision-making frameworks to select appropriate analgesic strategies based on procedure type, patient presentation, and risk factors.
- Evaluate the role of opioid prescribing in dentistry and apply opioid stewardship principles aligned with current clinical guidelines to reduce unnecessary opioid use.
2-Hour Self-Instruction
AGD Subject Code: 340
Original Release Date: 6/12/2026
Review Date: 6/12/2026
Expiration Date: 6/12/2029
This course is self-instruction hosted by Dental Compliance Specialists. For questions or assistance, please email clientcare@dentalcompliance.com or call 817-755-0035.
Refunds/Exchanges allowed up to 7 days after the course is purchased providing the certificate of completion has not already been obtained. To request a refund, email clientcare@dentalcompliance.com or call 817-755-0035.
