Do Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Prescribe More Opioids after Third Molar Removal for Patients with Substance Use History?

In 2018, an estimated 53.2 million (19.4%) people 12 years or older in the United States (US) used an illicit drug within the previous year. As such, oral and maxillofacial surgeons (OMSs) must be prepared to recognize patients with a substance abuse history (SUH) and may need to be prepared to adjust analgesic management for these patients. Although substance use may be associated with increased opioid requirements and delayed recovery, few recommendations exist to guide postoperative pain management in this population.

Source: Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery - October 1, 2021 Category: ENT & OMF Authors: J.T. Han, I.D. So, T.B. Dodson, A.B. Burke Source Type: research