A new study published in The Journal of the American Dental Association found that a combination of over-the-counter pain relievers is more effective in pain management after wisdom teeth extractions compared to opioids.
More than 1,800 adults who had their wisdom teeth removed were given either a non-opioid combination of ibuprofen and acetaminophen or an opioid combination of hydrocodone and acetaminophen, according to a Jan. 13 news release from the University of Rochester Medical Center.
Adults who received the non-opioid medication reported significantly less pain following the procedure and had better pain management and sleep compared to the participants who received the opioid combination.
Study results point to a potential new standard of care for dental and other pain, reducing the number of opioid prescriptions from dentists.
More than 5 million young adults are exposed to opioids each year to treat pain following wisdom teeth extractions, the release said.