Opioids may not be necessary after getting a tooth pulled

The opioid epidemic has called attention to doctors routinely prescribing opioids for pain after dental procedures, even though many patients don’t take the pills they pick up. In a survey of 329 patients, approximately half of the ones who had surgical extraction and 39% who had routine extraction were prescribed opioids. Six months later, patients who used opioids recalled significantly higher levels of pain, but they were no more or less satisfied with their care than people who took no opioids. And about half of the opioids prescribed remained unused by patients in both groups. “Opioids are no better than acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for pain after dental extraction," concluded study co-author Chad Brummett.