Dental Professionals

• Sample Dental Radiology Inspection Checklist
• Sample Inspection Notification Letter
• Regulations 216-RICR-40-20-4: Medical Diagnostic and Interventional X-Ray and Imaging Systems
• ADA / FDA Guide to Patient Selection for Dental Radiographs
• Optimizing radiation safety in dentistry: Clinical recommendations and regulatory considerations

Mental health resources for dental professionals can support patient care and successful healthy practice. The following resources are available for providers to refer patients and colleagues or use themselves. If you would like to suggest any additional resources, please contact RIDOH.OralHealth@health.ri.gov.

Rhode Island Resources

• BH Link is a behavioral health facility that provides crisis intervention services and connects people to ongoing treatment and care. Their professional team of registered nurses, counselors, psychiatrists, phone screeners, and peer specialists offers confidential support to adults 18+ and helps them access longer-term services.
• RI Medical Society Physician Health Program (RIPHP) is available to all physicians and healthcare practitioners who can find support for themselves and their colleagues.
• RIDOH Violence and Injury Prevention provides information about programs, including surveillance, publications, education, and prevention initiatives.

National Programs

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (formally known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) is available 24/7 across the United States. Anyone experiencing suicidal, substance use, or mental health crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress can call, text, or chat 988 to find support from trained crisis counselors.
• American Dental Association - Health and Wellness Find effective resources for taking care of yourself and your staff.
• The National Institute of Mental Health  The National Institute of Mental Health provides additional resources, mental health information, and research updates.

Additional Resources

• Prevent Overdose RI provides data and helpful resources on overdose, such as where to get naloxone and how to get into treatment.
• National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) - Rhode Island serves residents across the state with free mental health support, online groups, resources, and education.
• State of RI Department of Behavioral Health (BHDDH) works to guarantee high-quality, safe and accessible healthcare services through an integrated healthcare landscape in which all Rhode Islanders will thrive.
• Man Therapy® is an evidence-based and research-backed communication campaign that connects men with tools and resources to prevent a mental health crisis. This multi-agency effort addresses men’s mental health, with a bit of humor.

• Evidence-based clinical practice guideline for the pharmacologic management of acute dental pain in adolescents, adults, and older adults
• Evidence-based clinical practice guideline for the pharmacologic management of acute dental pain in children
• Managing Pain After Dental Surgery
• Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
• Safe Opioid Prescribing
• Knowing the Risks of Opioid Prescription Pain Medications (Video)

Naloxone

Screen all patients and caregivers.

• Check a patient’s electronic health record (EHR) and ask the patient about previous naloxone use.
• Check Rhode Island’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) for clinical alerts and evidence of high-dose opioids (i.e., more than 50 oral Morphine Milligram Equivalents (MMEs) per day), long-acting opioid use, or opioid use for longer than 90 days.
• Screen all patients for a history or diagnosis of Substance Use Disorder (SUD), Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), mental health conditions, respiratory or neurologic conditions that affect breathing, harmful use or misuse of opioids, and/or opioid overdose.
• Screen patients for use of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) to treat OUD.
• Screen all patients to identify use of opioids in combination with benzodiazepines, alcohol, anti-depressants, and/or sedatives.

Educate yourself, patients, and staff.

• Ask caregivers if they feel comfortable administering naloxone during an overdose in case a friend or loved one is experiencing a bad reaction to an opioid.
• Tell patients who are taking opioids about the potential for bad reactions that make breathing slow down or stop, leading to an overdose.
• Emphasize to patients that naloxone is an antidote and can save a life, just like a seatbelt or fire extinguisher.
• Tell patients and caregivers about what to expect after giving someone naloxone.
• Include a conversation about the importance of having naloxone on-hand as a standard part of opioid safety messages.
• Ensure all office staff know where to locate and how to use naloxone in case of an overdose.
• Review the signs and symptoms of opioid overdose and the legal protections under Rhode Island’s Good Samaritan Law.
• Sign and display these pledges on opioid safety.
• Print, hang, and distribute educational materials about naloxone.

Promote increased access to naloxone.

• Join the US Surgeon General and be a role model. Purchase and carry naloxone. Incorporate naloxone co-prescribing in EHRs, office protocols, and electronic prescribing systems.
• Co-prescribe naloxone to patients who are currently being prescribed syringes and needles.
• Stock naloxone in the office for emergency use and for direct dispensing to patients.
• Remind patients and staff that pharmacists can dispense naloxone and bill insurance companies without a prescription from a healthcare provider.
• If cost is a barrier for patients, help them enroll in a health insurance plan.

• American Association of Dental Boards guide to recordkeeping

• Oral Health and Cancer Therapy
• Oral Health and HIV

• Work Safer RI-Health & Safety Consultation Program
• CDC Infection Prevention & Control in Dental Settings
• EPA Dental Effluent Guidelines
• Eye Safety in Dentistry
• Dental Office Design to Reduce Airborne Disease Transmission, from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)

• Starting a business in Rhode Island
• Public Health Dental Hygienist Toolkit
• Rhode Island Dental Association
• Rhode Island Dental Hygienists Association
• Workforce Programs Available to Practitioners