Clinical Practice Guideline on Pain Relief in Children Is Released

A new clinical practice guideline developed by the American Dental Association Science & Research Institute (ADASRI), University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, and Center for Integrative Global Oral Health at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine recommends acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as first-line treatments for short-term dental pain in children younger than 12. The guideline panel found that acetaminophen alone, NSAIDs alone, or a combination of acetaminophen and NSAIDs can effectively manage a child’s pain after tooth extraction or during a toothache when immediate dental care is not available. In 2020, the United States Food and Drug Administration awarded a 3-year $1.5 million grant to the University of Pittsburgh and ADASRI to develop clinical practice guidelines for acute pain management in dentistry for children, adolescents, and adults. A second set of recommendations for adolescents and adults is underway. Click here to read more.