Shaping the dentist's role in addressing the opioid epidemic through dental education

The public health relevance of the opioid epidemic in the United States in 2018 cannot be overstated. Rates of substance use disorders and overdose deaths related to prescription drugs and other opioids, such as heroin, continue to soar. As the U.S. continues to grapple with the opioid epidemic, it is important to understand the role of providers in combating this crisis. Healthcare providers not only have an impact as prescribers of opioids, but also as partners in the interprofessional management of patients who have a substance use disorder. Dental professionals in particular are in a position to have a major impact on the opioid epidemic; dentists regularly manage acute pain and often have frequent patient interactions, providing an opportunity for screening and referral. Recent efforts to educate students and providers have been successful in reducing the rate of opioid prescriptions by dentists, but there are additional opportunities for dental education to address the opioid epidemic. This review aims to highlight and assess current educational efforts by individual dental schools, national membership organizations, and state and federal government to address the role of the dentist in this crisis