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Author Spotlight: Methodologies and Advancements of Chronic Pain Management Research
Published on: January 5, 2024
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New Approaches to Pain Management.
1Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Woodhull Hospital, Brooklyn, NY, USA; Mona Dental Program, University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica.
Dental Clinics of North America
|March 1, 2020
Summary
Opioid addiction is a major concern, often stemming from prescriptions for surgical pain. This study explores alternatives like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and patches for dental pain management.
Area of Science:
- Pain Management
- Pharmacology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Opioid addiction has reached epidemic levels in the US, partly due to prescriptions for surgical pain.
- Reliance on opioids for dental pain management is a significant concern.
- Alternative pain management strategies are needed to mitigate opioid dependence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore alternatives to opioid use in dental pain management.
- To present the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and adjunctive techniques.
- To provide a basic understanding of the molecular biology of dental pain to inform these approaches.
Main Methods:
- Review of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for dental pain.
- Presentation of transdermal and transmucosal patch applications.
- Discussion of the molecular biology underlying dental pain.
Main Results:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) offer a viable alternative to opioids for dental pain.
- Transdermal and transmucosal patches present additional non-opioid options.
- Understanding pain molecular biology supports rational selection of alternatives.
Conclusions:
- Reducing reliance on opioids in dental pain management is achievable through alternatives like NSAIDs and patches.
- Adjunctive techniques and a grasp of pain molecular biology are key to effective non-opioid pain control.
- These strategies can help combat the opioid epidemic in dental settings.
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