2026 Tennessee Chemical Dependency & Prescription Writing
1 CE Credit | PACE Subject Code: 346
This course updates participants on the opioid epidemic, evidence-based cannabis use, and their impact on dental practice. Topics include safe pain management, opioid prescribing and communication strategies, a newly approved non-opioid analgesic, and application of the Tennessee Chronic Pain Guidelines to improve patient outcomes and support responsible prescribing.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Assess current trends in the opioid epidemic and evidence-based applications of cannabis, and recognize their potential impact on dental practice and patient care.
- Implement appropriate standards of care for pain management before, during, and after dental treatment, while utilizing effective communication strategies to promote the safe prescribing, use, storage, and disposal of opioids and other controlled substances.
- Incorporate emerging post-operative analgesic therapies and apply the Tennessee Chronic Pain Guidelines to support evidence-based clinical decision-making, enhance patient outcomes, and minimize reliance on opioid medications.
Speaker: Bill Claytor, Jr., DDS, MAGD-LLSR, FACD
Dr. J. William “Bill” Claytor, Jr., DDS, MAGD-LLSR, FACD is a nationally recognized dental professional with expertise in general dentistry, substance use disorders, mental health, and burnout prevention. Since 2022, he has served as Executive Director of North Carolina Caring Dental Professionals. He is also a Key Opinion Leader for Dentsply Sirona and a visiting faculty member at Spear Education in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Dr. Claytor was honored with the 2025 American Dental Association Distinguished Service Award, the ADA’s highest recognition, and was inducted that same year as a Fellow of the American College of Dentists. He also holds Fellowship and Mastership distinctions from the Academy of General Dentistry, as well as its prestigious Lifelong Learning and Service Recognition Award. His national leadership includes serving as Consultant to the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs, participating in the ADA Health & Well-Being Summit, and a contributing panelist for the development of the ADA’s Evidence-based Guidelines on Acute Dental Pain.
A sought-after speaker and educator, Dr. Claytor lectures widely on the opioid epidemic, patient cannabis use in dentistry, and the challenges of burnout and perfectionism. He has presented at major universities and professional meetings across the country, including the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, New York University College of Dentistry, the Michigan and Colorado Dental Associations, the North Carolina Dental Society, CAPTASA Addictions Conference, the New Hampshire Professionals Health Program, and the Annual Meetings of the Federation of State Physician Health Programs.
His earlier service includes adjunct faculty at the UNC Adams School of Dentistry and consultant to the ADA Dental Well-Being Advisory Committee. He is also the author of numerous peer-reviewed articles, textbook chapters, and an eBook addressing burnout and perfectionism in dentistry.
Dedicated to advancing mental health and well-being in the profession, Dr. Claytor continues to be a respected voice, consultant, and educator in dentistry.
Conflict of Interest: None Reported