Managing postsurgical pain in dentistry

Nonopioid pain relievers may be more effective following dental surgery compared with opioids.

Researchers randomly assigned 1,800 patients undergoing third molar removal to receive either a combination of acetaminophen and ibuprofen or the opioid hydrocodone and acetaminophen, according to a report from Rutgers University. The study was published in The Journal of the American Dental Association.

Compared with those who received opioids, the patients who received the nonopioid combination reported less pain, greater sleep quality, higher satisfaction with treatment and less interference within daily activities throughout recovery in the week following the procedure. Further, the patients who received the combination of acetaminophen and ibuprofen were just 50% as likely to require additional pain medication compared with those who received opioids.

The researchers stressed that exposure to opioids, particularly among younger individuals during procedures such as tooth extraction, has been shown to increase the likelihood of developing an opioid addiction.

The researchers hope their findings can inspire the implementation of different nonopioid approaches to managing pain following dental surgery.

Read more: Rutgers University

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