Pain management and the health care provider —opioids, cannabinoids, and the drug abuse epidemic

The numerous oral-related diseases that we, as health care providers, are expected to manage present with varying degrees of pain. From the acute painful processes (e.g., an abscessed tooth or post-orthognathic surgical pain) to the more chronic conditions (i.e., oral cancer or temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis), all require the clinician to not only treat the underlying disease process but also provide appropriate pain control. Pain is an important symptom because it is very often the initial reason that a patient seeks medical/dental attention.
Source: Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontics - Category: ENT & OMF Authors: Source Type: research