Dental Group Calls for 7-Day Limit on Opioid Prescriptions

By Amy Orciari Herman

Edited by David G. Fairchild, MD, MPH, and Lorenzo Di Francesco, MD, FACP, FHM

Dentists' prescriptions for opioids should be for no more than 7 days, according to a new policy statement from the American Dental Association (ADA).

The group also calls for mandatory continuing education for dentists for opioid prescribing, as well as use of prescription drug monitoring programs to help prevent opioid misuse.

In a news release, the ADA points to a recent analysis of systematic reviews, published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, which found that 400 mg of ibuprofen plus 1000 mg of acetaminophen was better than any opioid-containing regimen for the relief of postoperative dental pain. Additionally, opioid regimens were associated with more adverse events.

The ADA's new policy is consistent with CDC opioid guidelines stating that 3 days or fewer is often enough for acute pain, and more than 7 days is rarely needed.