May-June 2021
The American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommend non-opioid analgesics as first line agents to manage acute dental pain.
Examples of non-opioid analgesics include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen. Studies have shown that NSAIDs are more effective at reducing pain than opioid analgesics.
NSAIDs are recommended as the first-line therapy for acute dental pain management.
If opioid use is necessary, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends to use the lowest effective dose of immediate-release opioids for the expected duration of pain severe enough to require opioid analgesics.