Role of Dentists in Prescribing Opioid Analgesics and Antibiotics
Abstract
Opioid analgesics and antibiotics prescribed by dentists is a useful and cost-effective measure when prescribed appropriately. Common dental conditions are best managed by extracting the offending tooth, restoring the tooth with an appropriate filling material, performing root canal therapy, and/or fabricating a prosthesis for the edentulous space. Unnecessary prescription of opioid analgesics and antibiotics to treat dental pain and bacterial infection is a growing public health concern. This article highlights the state of the literature on opioid analgesic and antibiotic prescribing practices in dentistry, the impact of opioid analgesic overdose, and prevention strategies to reduce opioid analgesics and antibiotic overprescription.
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Knowledge of patient substance use is relevant to dental practitioners because of oral health impacts and opioid prescribing.
“Knowledge regarding patient substance use is particularly relevant to dental practitioners given the impact that substance use disorders (e.g., methamphetamine use, alcohol use, tobacco use) and their associated behavioral comorbidities (e.g., poor oral hygiene practices, malnutrition, high sugar diets, etc.) have on oral health, as well as the frequency with which dentists prescribe opioids that”
From Dental screening, counseling, and referral to treatment for substance use disorder: Survey of the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network (2026) · cites this paper as Dana et al., 2018
Cites
Prevalence of inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions among US ambulatory care visits, 2010-2011
Fleming-Dutra, K. E., Hersh, A. L., Shapiro, D. J., Bartoces, M., Enns, E. A., File, T. M., Finkelstein, J. A., Gerber, J. S., Hyun, D. Y., Linder, J. A., et al. (2016) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.2016.4151 · Cited by 1,740 · see citing works
Self-citationExcessive antibiotic use for acute respiratory infections in the United States
Gonzales, R., Malone, D. C., Maselli, J. H., & Sande, M. A. (2001) · Clinical Infectious Diseases · doi:10.1086/322627 · Cited by 531 · see citing works
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Antibiotic and opioid prescribing for dental-related conditions in emergency departments
Roberts, R. M., Bohm, M. K., Bartoces, M. G., Fleming-Dutra, K. E., Hicks, L. A., & Chalmers, N. I. (2020) · The Journal of the American Dental Association · doi:10.1016/j.adaj.2019.11.013 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
McCauley, J. L., Crawford, P., Leo, M. C., McBurnie, M. A., Barton, D., Weidner, H. A., Rindal, D. B., & the National Dental PBRN Collaborative Group (2026) · Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs · doi:10.15288/jsad.24-00383 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
- Authors
- Dana, R., Azarpazhooh, A., Laghapour, N., Suda, K. J., & Okunseri, C.
- Affiliations
- University of Toronto (CA)
- Mount Sinai Hospital (CA)
- Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital (US)
- Marquette University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Okunseri, Christopher
- Venue
- Dental Clinics of North America
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2018-04
- Volume
- 62
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 279-294
- ISSN
- 0011-8532 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2788906037
- Cited by
- 30
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 4
- FWCI
- 0.63
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Dental Clinics of North America (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine › Pain Management and Opioid Use
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology › Antibiotic Use and Resistance
- Keywords
- opioid analgesic prescribing, antibiotic prescribing, dental prescribing, overprescribing, opioid overdose, dental pain management, odontogenic infection, endodontic treatment, tooth extraction, dental restorations
- MeSH terms
- Analgesics, Opioid, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Humans, Opioid-Related Disorders, Drug Prescriptions, Practice Patterns, Dentists', Inappropriate Prescribing
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