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By: Dr. Ted Wong, Chief Dentist, UnitedHealthcare
Published by Lawndale Bilingual News
The opioid epidemic is affecting countless lives and communities across the country, including here in Illinois. In fact, opioids cause more than 130 overdose deaths every day in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC); and the economic cost exceeds $ 500 billion a year, according to a study by the Council of Economic Advisors. Pain prescriptions are often necessary and useful for certain medical conditions; However, these powerful drugs – such as oxycodone or codeine – present a high risk of abuse and dependence. This is particularly true for adolescents and young adults, in part because the brains of adolescents are not fully mature and are therefore more sensitive to the effects of opioids. February is National Child Health Month, an opportunity to recognize the risks to youth and remind parents of the link between oral health and opioids. With this in mind, here are some things to consider:
Wisdom teeth: Last year, more than 5 million people lost their wisdom teeth, mostly teenagers and young adults. While the decision to remove wisdom teeth should appeal to a professional opinion of a dentist or an oral surgeon, patients and parents should also be aware of the risks badociated with potential opioid exposure following this procedure. For many young people, wisdom tooth extraction often represents their first exposure to opioids, and a recent study from Stanford University found that teens may end up in a battle with additional opioids after this procedure.
Limited offer: Except in extreme cases, it is important to limit the dosage requirements and the appropriate minimum number of days recommended by the CDC to three days and to less than 50 milligram equivalents of morphine per day. Indeed, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services, the risk of chronic opioid use increases after the third day of use and increases rapidly thereafter, and the abuse or the Opioid addiction can lead to dependence on more powerful illicit drugs.
Other pain medications: If an opioid is prescribed as a result of a dental procedure or other medical event, it is a good idea to ask your healthcare professional if there are alternatives, including over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. In many cases, these medications can be just as effective for pain management, without the risk of addiction.
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