Over-the-Counter Duo Outshines Opioids for Post-Surgical Dental Pain
A Rutgers Health study reveals that a combination of acetaminophen and ibuprofen provides superior pain relief and patient satisfaction after wisdom tooth extraction compared to opioids.
Dentists have long been criticized for prescribing highly addictive opioids for painful dental procedures such as wisdom teeth extraction. A new study from Rutgers Health has found that over-the-counter pain relievers can be just as effective when it comes to pain relief. The trial, involving more than 1,800 patients, demonstrated that a combination of acetaminophen and ibuprofen was more effective than the opioid hydrocodone with acetaminophen in controlling post-surgical pain.
Patients taking the non-opioid combination reported less pain during the first 2 days, better sleep on the initial night, and improved daily function throughout recovery. They were also only half as likely to need additional medication and expressed greater overall satisfaction with their pain management.
The study is especially relevant for dentists, who are among the top prescribers of opioids. Given the risks of opioid misuse, particularly among young adults experiencing their first exposure after dental procedures, these findings could significantly reduce opioid prescribing in dentistry.
Published in the Journal of the American Dental Association (ADA), the research supports the ADA’s recommendations to avoid opioids as a first-line treatment. Click here to read more.
