Journal of the American Dental Association

It's important for every dental professional to maintain a delicate balance between the side effects and benefits of opioid and non-opioid therapies while providing the best pain relief possible.

New evidence was published in the Journal of the American Dental Association that will affect how dentists prescribe medication to patients experiencing post-operative pain.

According to the study, opioids may not be as effective as over-the-counter medicine for treating acute dental pain.

Researchers at the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine reached that conclusion after evaluating numerous studies that focused on the safety and efficacy of different pain relief options.