My Blog
Posts for tag: pain management

There's no doubt treating dental problems can improve your health. But because the mouth is among the most sensitive areas of the body, many dental procedures can be potentially uncomfortable after treatment.
We rely on pain medication to alleviate any dental work discomfort, especially during recuperation. Our arsenal of pain-relieving drugs includes strong opioid narcotics like morphine or oxycodone which have effectively relieved dental pain for decades. But although they work wonders, they're also highly addictive.
We've all been confronted in the last few years with startling headlines about the opioid addiction epidemic sweeping across the country. Annual deaths resulting from opioid addiction number in the tens of thousands, ahead of motor vehicle accident fatalities. Although illegal drugs like heroin account for some, the source for most addiction cases—an estimated 2 million in 2015 alone—is opioid prescriptions.
Dentists and other healthcare providers are seeking ways to address this problem. One way is to re-examine the use of opioids for pain management and to find alternative means that might reduce the number of narcotic prescriptions.
This has led to new approaches in dentistry regarding pain relief. In a trend that's been underway for several years, we've found managing post-discomfort for many procedures can be done effectively with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen. They don't share the addictive quality of narcotics and are regarded as safer when taken as directed.
There's also been a recent modification with using NSAIDs. Dentists have found that alternating the use of ibuprofen and acetaminophen often amplifies the pain relief found using only one at a time. By doing so, we may further reduce the need for narcotics for more procedures.
The trend now in dentistry is to look first to NSAIDs to manage pain and discomfort after dental work. Narcotics may still be used, but only in a secondary role when absolutely needed. With less narcotic prescriptions thanks to these new pain management protocols, we can reduce the risk of a dangerous addiction.
If you would like more information on managing pain during and after dental work, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation.
Sood Family Dental
Shelby Township, MI 48316
(586) 207-1471
[email protected]
OFFICE HOURS
Monday: 12:00pm - 6:00pm
Tuesday: 11:00am - 7:00pm
Wednesday: 9:00am - 2:00pm
Thursday: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Friday: 9:00am - 12:00pm
Saturday: 8:30am - 1:30pm
Sunday: Closed
Our Blog
Archive:
- 2021
- 2020
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2013
Tags
- celebrity smiles (82)
- gap (1)
- orthodontics (8)
- tads (1)
- oral health (32)
- discolored teeth (1)
- bleaching (1)
- teeth whitening (14)
- cosmetic dentistry (19)
- stained teeth (1)
- dental injuries (2)
- oral cancer (3)
- dental implants (19)
- aging (1)
- dental injury (7)
- mouthguard (4)
- dental emergency (4)
- gum disease (19)
- braces (11)
- clear orthodontic aligners (1)
- snoring (2)
- sleep apnea (2)
- fluoride (3)
- floss (1)
- pediatric dentistry (15)
- sedation dentistry (1)
- veneers (2)
- chipped tooth (3)
- Tooth Whitening (1)
- root canal (4)
- tooth wear (1)
- bonding (3)
- dental hygiene (1)
- common symptoms (1)
- tooth decay (8)
- smoking (2)
- Emergency Dentistry (1)
- x-rays (2)
- dental implant (4)
- orthodontic treatment (23)
- sealants (2)
- Dentures (12)
- lichen planus (1)
- cracked tooth (1)
- crowns (4)
- Foods (1)
- root planing (1)
- oral hygiene (21)
- dental anxiety (1)
- tooth pain (6)
- bad breath (2)
- wisdom teeth (4)
- Healthy Food (1)
- pediatric care (1)
- laser dentistry (2)
- athletic mouthguards (1)
- periodontal disease (5)
- partial denture (1)
- tooth replacement (1)
- missing teeth (1)
- tooth grinding (1)
- removable dentures (1)
- anesthesia (1)
- tmj disorders (5)
- Bridges (1)
- root canal treatment (4)
- apicoectomy (1)
- tooth extraction (2)
- burning mouth syndrome (1)
- fillings (2)
- mouthguards (2)
- periodontal (gum) disease (1)
- retainers (2)
- missing tooth (1)
- abscessed tooth (1)
- saliva (1)
- teeth grinding (2)
- porcelain veneers (1)
- dental exam (1)
- teeth wear (1)
- eating disorders (1)
- nutrition (4)
- restorative dentistry (3)
- thumb sucking (1)
- retainer (2)
- cancer (1)
- crown lengthening (1)
- Tooth-Colored Fillings (1)
- smile makeover (1)
- toothache (2)
- artificial sweeteners (1)
- diabetes (1)
- loose tooth (1)
- cleft lip (1)
- teething (1)
- GERD (2)
- osteoporosis (1)
- medicine (1)
- bone grafting (1)
- gum recession (1)
- clear aligners (1)
- chipped teeth (2)
- bridge (1)
- jaw pain (2)
- pain management (1)
- topical fluoride (1)
- vaping (1)
- athletic mouthguard (1)
- Oral Care Routine (1)
- Flossing (1)
- DIY (1)
- Emergency Dental Treatment (1)
- Shelby Township MI Dentist (3)
- dental care (1)
- Dental Visits (1)
- Dental Appointments (1)