The dentist shall comply with the requirements in this section when prescribing opioid analgesics for acute nonoperative pain or acute perioperative pain and shall document completion of these requirements in the patient record:

(1) The dentist shall consider prescribing nonopioid analgesics as the first line of pain control in patients in accordance with the provisions of WAC 246-817-908 unless not clinically appropriate.

(2) The dentist, or their designee, shall conduct queries of the PMP in accordance with the provisions of WAC 246-817-980 to identify any Schedule II-V medications or drugs of concern received by the patient and document their review and any concerns in the patient record.

(3) If the dentist prescribes opioids for effective pain control, such prescription must not be in a greater quantity than needed for the expected duration of pain severe enough to require opioids.

(a) A three-day supply or less will often be sufficient;

(b) More than a seven-day supply will rarely be needed;

(c) The dentist shall not prescribe beyond a seven-day supply without clinical documentation in the patient record to justify the need for such a quantity. For more specific best practices, the dentist may refer to clinical practice guidelines including, but not limited to, those produced by the agency medical directors' group, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the Bree collaborative.

(4) The dentist shall reevaluate the patient who does not follow the expected course of recovery. If significant and documented improvement in function or pain control has not occurred, the dentist shall reconsider the continued use of opioids or whether tapering or discontinuing opioids is clinically indicated.

(5) Follow-up visits for pain control must include objectives or metrics to be used to determine treatment success if opioids are to be continued. This includes, at a minimum:

(a) Change in pain level;

(b) Change in physical function;

(c) Change in psychosocial function; and

(d) Additional planned diagnostic evaluations to investigate causes of continued acute nonoperative pain or acute perioperative pain or other treatments.

(6) Long-acting or extended release opioids are not indicated for acute nonoperative pain. Should a dentist need to prescribe a long-acting opioid for acute pain, the dentist shall document the reason in the patient record.

(7) A dentist shall not discontinue medication assisted treatment medications when treating acute pain, except as consistent with the provisions of WAC 246-817-976.

(8) If the dentist elects to prescribe a combination of opioids with a medication listed in WAC 246-817-975 or to a patient known to be receiving a medication listed in WAC 246-817-975 from another practitioner, such prescribing must be in accordance with WAC 246-817-975.

(9) If the dentist elects to treat a patient with opioids beyond the six-week time period of acute nonoperative pain or acute perioperative pain, the dentist shall document in the patient record that the patient is transitioning from acute pain to subacute pain. Rules governing the treatment of subacute pain in WAC 246-817-915 and 246-817-916 shall apply unless there is documented improvement in function or pain control and there is a documented plan and timing for discontinuation of all opioid medications.