A survey which researchers will present at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons asked patients their postsurgical pain treatment preferences.
Study investigator Pedro Franco, DDS, and colleagues surveyed more than 1,500 oral surgery patients or their parents through Nielsen's Harris Poll Online to document their postsurgical pain medication preferences.
Here's what you should know.
1. More than seven in 10 respondents would opt for a non-opioid medication to treat postsurgical pain from wisdom tooth extraction if given a choice.
2. Approximately 80 percent said they would pay more for a non-opioid medication.
3. Despite preferring a non-opioid, 70 percent of respondents received an opioid post-extraction.
4. Up to 71 percent of respondents had concerns over possible adverse effects related to opioids, however only 40 percent of respondents discussed those concerns with a provider.
5. Approximately 90 percent of respondents who took opioids had adverse effects including nausea, vomiting or feeling "spaced out."
Pacira Pharmaceuticals funded the research.
The 2017 Annual Meeting of the American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons is Oct. 9 to Oct. 14, 2017 in San Francisco.