More than 100 Capital Region dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants attended a continuing education forum on campus Thursday evening entitled An Interprofessional Approach for Recognizing, Treating and Referring Patients Living with an Opioid Use Disorder.
The continuing education course was offered through the college’s Office of Community and Professional Education and the Dental Hygiene Department.
Panelists included the Dental Hygiene Department Chair Judy DiLorenzo, Dental Hygiene Professor Marianne Belles, local oral Surgeons Dr. Timothy Adams, DMD and Dr. Brian R. Carkner, DDS, MD, General Dentist and Parent Dr. Thomas Patregnani, DDS, HVCC Campus Judicial Coordinator Sandra McCarthy Esq., and Rensselaer County Department of Mental Health employees Supervisor of Substance Abuse and Prevention and Recovery Services Jennifer O’Neil-Haggerty, LMSW and Peer Engagement Specialist Jesse Chapman.
The turnout was unprecedented for a continuing professional education course. This panel discussion included the role dentistry plays in this multidisciplinary effort addressing the tragic opioid epidemic. Panelists provided input related to successful strategies implemented to recognize signs and symptoms of opioid/substance abuse, legal concerns related to dentistry and pain management prescriptions, and treatment alternatives for pain management in a dental setting. A major goal of this course was met, which was to raise awareness in the dental community to resources for prevention and treatment.
The event was sponsored by Select Dental Staffing, which is owned/operated by a Dental Hygiene program graduate and long-time Dental Hygiene Advisory Board member, Terri Jenkins.
Published: Fri, 14 Sep 2018 15:59:47 +0000 by e.bryant