With opioid use disorder becoming more common, some dentists are turning to alternatives.
These findings come from a national survey published Oct. 21 by authors from The Journal of the American Dental Association. The survey asked dentists about their opioid prescribing habits, perceptions regarding opioid effectiveness, beliefs about patient behaviors, and relationships with drug and equipment manufacturers. There were 291 responses.
Below are the findings from the survey:
- Dentists are the highest prescribers of opioids to patients 18 years and younger.
- Eighty-four percent of respondents reported believing a combination of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and acetaminophen is just as effective as or more effective than opioids.
- Forty-three percent of respondents still reported regularly prescribing opioid medications.
- Nine out of 10 respondents who reported prescribing opioids said they were less likely to prescribe opioids to adolescents aged 11 to 18 years.
- Forty-eight percent reported they were less likely to prescribe opioids to young adults aged 19 through 25 years.
- Of those who reported prescribing opioids, half reported prescribing amounts that would lead to unused medication.
- Sixty-nine percent reported having patients divert or misuse opioids.