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MATE Course Part 1: The Opioid Epidemic & Its Impact on Dental Patients and Dentists

Friday, May 9, 2025
7:30 AM – 9:30 AM PT
CE: 2 CE Credits
Primary Audience(s): Dentist

Additional Audience(s): Hygienist, EFDA/Dental Assistant, Front Office
The Opioid Epidemic continues to claim over 100,000 lives annually in the U.S. and impacts dentists and their patients in a variety of ways. This course provides an update on the scope of the opioid epidemic based on CDC and other data, and highlights the various types of opioids and other controlled substances and their abuse characteristics. Fentanyl is but one of many newer drugs of abuse, and its synthetic derivatives are challenging medicine to develop opioid antagonists to replace naloxone (Narcan).

Learning Objectives:

  • Describe the current scope of the Opioid Epidemic in the United States.
  • Recognize newer opioid and non-opioid drugs of abuse and their implications for medical and dental management.
  • Identify sources of illicit drugs and prescription drugs that are diverted for street distribution and use.