Here in the UK, opioids aren't prescribed much for dental pain, but in 2016 in the USA, a Working group was established by the Governor of Massachusetts to tackle the opioid crisis.
Here, the general hospital OMFS Department reduced prescriptions for wisdom tooth extractions from 20 pills to eight per patient. There was no reduction in patient satisfaction or increase in post-op visits or telephone calls. In the following years, dentists in Massachusetts prescribed opioid pills with less days' supply and a lower mean Morphine equivalent.
Massachusetts is one of 24 states where dentists have to take an opioid prescribing course for licensure.
Refs:
Comments