ADA, Dental Industry Addressing Opioid Prescribing Habits

NPR reports many dentists are working to prescribe fewer opioids, “with state dental boards and associations issuing new guidelines for patients and practitioners.” The article notes that Dr. Paul Moore “studies the usefulness of ibuprofen and other” non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in pain management; Dr. Moore “worked on a recent update of the American Dental Association’s prescribing guidelines for opioids.” The guideline recommends dentists consider over-the-counter pain relievers as the “first-line therapy for acute pain management.” At the state level, Pennsylvania now “requires new dentists and those renewing their clinical license to get training in the best practices of opioid prescribing.” The article mentions that Pennsylvania dentist Dr. Joel Funari, who specializes in oral and maxillofacial surgery, participated in a working group in 2014 “to develop prescribing guidelines for dentists” in Pennsylvania. Dr. Funari and his colleagues found NSAIDS are “very effective” for treating dental pain. Their findings are published in The Journal of the American Dental Association.

Methamphetamine Use Can Lead To Dental Damage

KTRK-TV Houston (1/5) discussed how methamphetamine use can harm health, sharing “photos of repeat meth offenders” to illustrate the physical side-effects of methamphetamine use. The article notes that methamphetamine use negatively affects dental health, often leading to tooth loss. The article states that “according to the American Dental Association, meth mouth is probably caused by a combination of the drug’s effects, both physical and psychological,” which can result in xerostomia and extended periods of poor oral hygiene.

        The ADA provides additional information on “Meth Mouth” atMouthHealthy.org. A study published in The Journal of the American Dental Association also examined dental disease in methamphetamine users.