Dr. Leventer received his dental degree from the University of Maryland in 1990. He then completed a General Practice Residency, and a Dental Anesthesiology Residency at Brookdale Hospital Medical Center in New York.

Dr. Leventer is a Diplomat of the American Dental Board of Anesthesiology where he is also on the Board of Directors and serves as a board examiner.  He is a member of the American Society of Dentist Anesthesiologists, the Academy of General Dentistry and the American Dental Association. Dr. Leventer is committed to providing dental care without pain or anxiety.

Dr. Leventer began his academic career in 1997 as a part time clinical instructor in Dental Anesthesiology at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry while maintaining a private general dental practice with a focus on anesthesia for dentistry. In 2009 he became a full time Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. He provides sedation and general anesthesia within the school of dentistry, practices general dentistry in the faculty practice and provides dental services at the University of Maryland Hospital. He has presented many CE courses on the topics of the use of sedation and anesthesia in dentistry.

Richard L. Wynn, PhD, is a professor of pharmacology in the Department of Neural and Pain Sciences at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. He is a nationally recognized speaker, author, columnist, and consultant on dental drug therapeutics and drug information for the dental professional. He is the lead author of the most recognized chairside dental drug reference book, Drug Information Handbook for Dentistry, now in its 25th edition. Wynn keeps the dental profession informed about current issues relative to drugs in dentistry, including new therapeutic agents, new drug interactions, and newly reported adverse reactions in dental patients. He researches the literature daily for new reports of interest to the profession.

In December 2022, the U.S. Congress passed an omnibus spending bill that included the Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act. This new law requires prescribers of controlled substances, including dentists, to complete eight hours of one-time training on safely prescribing controlled substances (Schedules II, III, IV, and/or V) in order to receive or renew their registration with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

This new DEA requirement goes into effect on June 27, 2023, and is only a one-time training requirement.

This 6-hour course plus the Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners 2-hour Proper Pharmacologic Prescribing and Disposal for Dental Practitioners course (required every other renewal cycle, whether you prescribe or not) equals the 8hr DEA requirement to obtain or renew DEA registration.

New information in the additional 6 hrs. of Continuing Education related to Substance Use Disorder

Outline:

1. List commonly abused legal and illegal medications implicated in substance use disorder, including opioids, stimulants, psychedelics, synthetics, and tobacco/smokable/Cannabis products.
2. Describe the pharmacologic mechanisms, and physiologic effects of the common medications implicated in substance abuse.
3. Describe the Legal and financial implications of substance abuse.
4. Describe the factors that predispose to substance use disorder.
5. Describe how to recognize signs of substance use disorder.
6. Describe how to modify treatment of dental patients that currently have or have had a substance use disorder.
7. Describe the hazards and safe strategies of prescribing opioids to children.
8. Describe the hazards and safe strategies of prescribing opioids to the elderly.
9. Describe the hazards and safe strategies of prescribing opioids to patients with chronic pain.
10. Describe referral and intervention strategies for patients with a suspected or documented substance use disorder.
11. Describe the mission and the treatment strategies for the Maryland and ADA Dentist Wellness Committees.
12. Describe professional medical strategies to treat substance abuse as an inpatient and outpatient.
13. Describe the treatment methods for patients in a rehabilitation facility for a substance use disorder.
14. Describe the medications used for treatment of a substance use disorder, in the acute phase and maintenance phase.
15. Describe the mechanisms, interactions and limitations of Methadone, Buprenorphine, and other treatment medications.
16. Describe non-medication strategies for long term management of substance use disorder.

During this lecture, participants will:

• Ensure that dental practitioners have the knowledge, skills, and competencies to understand, recognize, refer, and treat patients with substance use disorders.
• Understand how to practice risk evaluation and mitigation strategies.
• Understand the risks and role of medications to effectively treat pain and substance use disorders.
• Understand the impact of trauma, historical biases, and stigma as barriers to engaging patients in treatment.