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Management of acute dental pain is accomplished through a clinical approach that successfully incorporates opioid and non-opioid analgesics. However, this normally occurs outside the dental office, away from our immediate supervision and we are often faced with the difficult task of effectively managing patient pain while also avoiding adverse outcomes for both our patients and our communities. This program will provide an overview of the use of opioid and non-opioid analgesics and analgesic adjuvants in the effective management of acute dental pain. Using case scenarios, special emphasis will be given to the excessive utilization of opioid analgesics, the impact on our communities, the burgeoning national opioid epidemic, and considerations for the dental hygienist.