Pain Relief Following Tooth Extractions Need Not Include Opioids

According to new research published in JAMA Network Open, effective alternatives to opioids are available for patients recovering from tooth extraction procedures. The study included a group of adults who had dental extractions performed at the University of Rochester Medical Center’s Eastman Institute for Oral Health’s dental clinic. In patients who reported moderate to severe pain, higher doses of ibuprofen or a combination of ibuprofen and acetaminophen were effective. Among those patients who were unable to take such medications due to health problems, gabapentin—an anticonvulsant medication—was helpful in alleviating pain. The authors suggest conducting a randomized controlled clinical trial on these options would be prudent. Click here to read more.