A promising new alternative to opioids to treat toothache

A recent study by the University of Rochester demonstrated a possible opioid alternative to pain

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage of deaths from prescription opioid use climbed more than 16 percent between 2019 and 2020, accounting for about

The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association JAMA Network Open, looked at two sizable patient groups, including men and women between the ages of 18 and 93 who underwent tooth extraction at the Hoyt Emergency Dental Care Clinic in Rochester, New York

"We hypothesized that using a combination of non-opioid painkillers and adding gabapentin to it would be an effective strategy to reduce or eliminate opioids in the treatment of toothache," said

In 2012, in the first group of 3300 patients, ibuprofen or acetaminophen was used to relieve minor pain

However, about 3,800 patients in the second group had tooth extractions between March 2021 and February 2022, and they did not take opioids

The second group received the same prescription for acetaminophen or ibuprofen for mild pain

In 2012, individuals who were unable to take ibuprofen or acetaminophen due to health difficulties or possible complications with current prescriptions were often prescribed an opioid combination; However, in 2022, the gabapentin combination is used as an alternative to non-opioids

"Although the American Dental Association recommends nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to control pain," Dr.

"This study represents an ongoing effort by our team and other dentists to minimize the use of opioids to treat toothache," said

References:

Comparison of Analgesic Prescriptions for Dental Pain and Patient Pain Outcomes Before vs After an Opioid Reduction Initiative