Researchers call for a reduction in opioids within the dental industry

Researchers are calling for opioids, used within the dental industry, to be eliminated or significantly decreased after data was obtained from the University of Michigan outlining that there was little contrast between the comfort and discomfort of patients who weren’t prescribed opioids compared to those who were.

The researchers assessed three-hundred and twenty-five patients. Almost forty per cent of them who had routine extraction and almost half of them who had surgical extraction were administered opioids.

Romesh Nalliah, Clinical Professor and co-author of the study, stated: “I think the most important finding is that patient satisfaction with pain management was no different between the opioid group and non opioid group. It didn’t make a difference whether it was surgical or routine extraction. I think we can almost eliminate opioid prescribing from dental practice. Of course, there are going to be some exceptions like patients who can’t tolerate nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories. I would estimate we can reduce opioid prescribing to about ten per cent of what we currently prescribe as a profession.”

Chad Brummett, Co-director of Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network and Co-author of the study, stated: “These data support the Michigan OPEN prescribing recommendations. These call for no opioids for the majority of patients after dental extractions, including wisdom teeth extraction.”