TODS FEATURED SPEAKER
I HAVEN’T GOT TIME FOR THIS PAIN: DENTAL PAIN MANAGEMENT FOR THE ENTIRE TEAM!
Mr. Tom Viola, RPh
Session Date: Friday October 24, 2025
Session Time: 1:30 PM – 4:30PM
Presenter Name: Mr. Tom Viola
Outline:
Management of acute odontogenic pain is accomplished through a clinical approach that successfully incorporates intraoperative local anesthesia and a postoperative regimen of non-opioid and opioid analgesics. However, improper and inappropriate use of both local anesthetic agents and analgesics have the potential to produce adverse outcomes for our patients. Thus, it is critical for clinicians to accurately evaluate the need for pain control, identify associated risks, and assess the efficacy of the agents to be administered. This program will provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the pharmacology and therapeutics of local anesthetic agents and analgesics. Special emphasis will be given to effective perioperative pain management and best practices for prescribing analgesics for postoperative pain control.
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss local anesthetic agents with respect to their mechanisms of action, adverse effects, contraindications and clinical considerations.
- Differentiate between the two major classes of local anesthetic agents with respect to their distribution, metabolism, adverse effects, drug interactions and contraindications.
- Specify the various local anesthetic agent combinations most commonly used in dentistry and the rationale for their use in specific clinical situations.
- Explain the rationale for the use of vasoconstrictors and potential adverse effects.
- Describe the pharmacology and mechanism of action of analgesics used in the management of acute dental pain, including situations which may preclude their use.
- Examine the intended role of opioid and non-opioid analgesics in the treatment of acute dental pain, as well as situations which may preclude their use.
- Discover best practices for prescribing analgesics, as well as proper storage and disposal of unused dosages.
- Identify techniques useful in recognizing and identifying potential opioid addiction and current protocols for its treatment.
About The Speaker
Mr. Tom Viola, RPh has over 30 years of experience as a board-certified pharmacist, clinical educator, professional speaker and published author, Tom Viola has earned his international reputation as the go-to specialist for making pharmacology practical and useful for all members of the dental team. As the founder of Pharmacology Declassified, Tom’s mission is to provide clinicians valuable insight into the dental considerations of general medicine as well as the medical considerations of general dentistry. As an award-winning educator, Tom is a member of the faculty of 15 dental professional degree programs. As a widely-published author, Tom is well known for his contributions to several professional journals and pharmacology textbooks and currently serves as a consultant to the ADA’s Council on Scientific Affairs. As an award-winning speaker, Tom has been recognized by many organizations and associations as one of the most sought-after lecturers in dentistry and has presented over 1000 informative and engaging continuing education seminars and webinars to dental professionals since 2001.
