Unused Dental Surgery Prescriptions May Help Fuel Opioid Epidemic

Opioid overprescription and misuse have contributed to a growing opioid epidemic in the United States. In 2020, over 100,000 Americans died from drug overdoses, with opioids accounting for over 70% of those deaths.

Dental surgery is a common source of opioid prescriptions. In fact, one study found that over half of all dental patients are prescribed opioids after surgery. However, many patients do not need all of the opioids that they are prescribed, and unused opioids can end up being misused or diverted to others.

There are a number of factors that contribute to unused dental surgery prescriptions. One factor is that dentists are often under pressure to prescribe opioids to relieve patient pain. Another factor is that patients may be overprescribed opioids because dentists are not sure how much pain medication will be needed.

Unused dental surgery prescriptions can contribute to the opioid epidemic in a number of ways. First, unused opioids can be misused by the patient who was originally prescribed them. Second, unused opioids can be diverted to others, such as friends or family members, who may misuse them. Third, unused opioids can be sold illegally on the black market.

There are a number of things that can be done to reduce the number of unused dental surgery prescriptions. One is for dentists to be more judicious in prescribing opioids. Another is for patients to take only as much pain medication as needed and to dispose of unused opioids properly.

Here are some tips for dentists to reduce the number of unused dental surgery prescriptions:

• Prescribe opioids only when necessary and in the lowest effective dose.
• Consider using non-opioid pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, whenever possible.
• Educate patients about the risks of opioid misuse and addiction.
• Provide patients with clear instructions on how to take and dispose of unused opioids.

Here are some tips for patients to reduce the number of unused dental surgery prescriptions:

• Take only as much pain medication as needed.
• Do not share your pain medication with others.
• Dispose of unused opioids properly by flushing them down the toilet or taking them to a drug take-back program.

By taking these steps, dentists and patients can help to reduce the number of unused dental surgery prescriptions and contribute to the fight against the opioid epidemic.