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Dentistry Commons

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University of the Pacific

Dental Public Health and Education

Dentistry

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Full-Text Articles in Dentistry

Opioids And Dentistry, Anne E. Wampler Jul 2021

Opioids And Dentistry, Anne E. Wampler

Pacific Journal of Health

Dental professionals are among the leading prescribers of opioids in the United States and play a significant role in the current opioid epidemic. While dental professionals prescribe these potent pain killers to provide relief to patients, the serious implications of their prescription and distribution must be considered. This manuscript covers the science behind opioids, history of the opioid epidemic, the affliction it is currently causing in the U.S., the immense impact dentists have in providing opioid prescriptions along with gross over-prescription practices, and much more. Other topics discussed include alternative pain management, safe prescribing practices, naloxone, and how dentists can …


Oral Health Care: An Autoethnography Reflecting On Dentistry's Collective Neglect And Changes In Professional Education Resulting In The Dental Hygienist Being The Prevention-Focused Primary Oral Health Care Provider, Maureen Patricia Mcweeney Harrington Jan 2019

Oral Health Care: An Autoethnography Reflecting On Dentistry's Collective Neglect And Changes In Professional Education Resulting In The Dental Hygienist Being The Prevention-Focused Primary Oral Health Care Provider, Maureen Patricia Mcweeney Harrington

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Many factors influence poor oral health among disadvantaged populations including socioeconomic circumstances, knowledge of disease prevention strategies and ability to implement those strategies, public policies, insurance status, insurance policies, dental providers and other challenges to accessing dental care. Often these issues converge and result in early disadvantages to achieving good oral health (Horton & Barker, 2010). Addressing even some of the factors that contribute to poor oral health may provide ways to change the dental health status of historically underserved populations. The purpose of this research is to explore my role as a practitioner and researcher in the creation of …