Pain management after a dental visit depends on the procedure. Traditionally, providers have given patients an opioid prescription after an extraction. However, greater awareness of the benefits of alternatives and concerns about addiction risk have reduced opioid prescriptions.
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends a combination of non-opioid medications (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDS combined with acetaminophen) to ease pain after surgical extractions. Medication is just one component of post-surgery pain relief. Getting rest and maintaining a soft-food diet, combined with non-opioids, prevents discomfort and reduces the risk of addiction. Learn more about How to Manage Pain After a Dental Procedure without Opioids.
The ADA online training, Clinical Practice Guideline for Management of Acute Dental Pain, explains the rationale behind the non-opioid approach. It also explores how to have important discussions with patients about pain control and the risks of using opioids.