Teens who are prescribed opioids after their wisdom teeth are removed have a 33% higher risk of opioid misuse later in life.
"Dentists play a pivotal role and have a professional responsibility to reduce the misuse and abuse of opioids..."
– California Dental Association
"One in 16 prescribed opioids after a surgical procedure will become a long-term user."
– International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
The Ventura County Rx Abuse & Heroin Workgroup, in partnership with the Office of Traffic Safety, is committed to working with the local dental community to reduce opioid misuse and fatal overdoses. Prescribers across the county are experiencing new healthcare challenges and evolving standards for patient care.
The Dental Prescribing Toolkit includes information and materials to assist with patient communications on opioids and possible risks. These items may be copied and shared with your staff, colleagues and patients.
5 days of opioid use can lead to dependence.
• Statement on the Use of Opioids in the Treatment of Dental Pain, American Dental Association
• Dental Pain May Lead to First Encounter with Opioids, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• CURES and Opioid Pain Management, California Dental Association
• Patient Handout: Prescription Opioids: What You Need to Know, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Ventura County versions
• Form: Consent to Prescribe Opioid to a Minor, California Dental Association
Working together, we are making a measurable difference locally: to individuals, to families, and to our community.
Do Your Patients Know When It's OK TO DRIVE?
Patients don’t always realize that:
- Rx opioid use increases the risk of vehicles crashes
- A prescription doesn’t mean it’s OK to drive
Free Patient Education Kit
Protect your patient and your practice:
- Take a brief, confidential survey to receive free Rx driving safety outreach materials.
- 100 printed patient information handouts with self-assessment checklists and local resources
- 100 prescription warning labels
- 2 Talking Points laminated cards for staff
- Available in English and Spanish
Thank you for partnering with Ventura County Behavioral Health and the California Office of Traffic Safety to share the message that Pain medication and driving don’t mix!
Citations
- Farooqi, O.A., et al. “Opioid Guidelines for Common Dental Surgical Procedures: A Multidisciplinary Panel Consensus.” International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Churchill Livingstone, 12 Oct. 2019 – source link
- Li, Guohua, and Stanford Chihuri. “Prescription opioids, alcohol and fatal motor vehicle crashes: a population-based case-control study.” Injury epidemiology vol. 6 11. 25 Mar. 2019 DOI: 10.1186/s40621-019-0187-x
- Miech Richard et al. “Prescription Opioids in Adolescence and Future Opioid Misuse.” Pediatrics, 136(5), e1169–e1177 (2015) – DOI link
- Shah A, et al. “Characteristics of Initial Prescription Episodes and Likelihood of Long-Term Opioid Use — United States, 2006–2015.” MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2017;66:265–269 – DOI link
