Use of opioids: Experts warn that the extraction of wisdom teeth contributes to the opioid crisis

Each year, about 5 million Americans, most of whom are teenagers and young adults, have their wisdom teeth removed. Many of them are prescribed opioids to relieve pain during healing.

The American Dental Association said that after updating its guidelines recommending not to prescribe opioids, dentists had prescribed nearly half a million prescriptions in the US. less in 2017 compared to five years earlier. But that still represented 18.1 million prescriptions – and some families suffer the devastating consequences.

This includes Ellen Earley, whose daughter Saige was a young mother worshiping her 16-month-old son Julian. In 2017, Saige, 22, needed to have her wisdom teeth removed. When the dentist prescribed opioids to help manage his pain, said Earley, he gave "no warning, nothing at all" about the potential risks.

"In fact, he said, you know, I think they gave him a five-day supply," and he added, "If you need more, please let me know. Call me, "recalls Earley.

Saige quickly became addicted and got several refills before moving on; "almost immediately," said his mother, she began using heroin.

Barely 15 months after removing her wisdom teeth, Saige took an overdose and died in a bathroom at an airport on her way to a fourth round of rehab.

"It was shocking," Earley said. "She was gone, but mostly part of Julian – that was the shocking part."

Dr. Chad Brummett, who is studying pain at the University of Michigan, said that he was not surprised by what had happened to Saige. Brummett said that despite research showing that a combination of acetaminophen and ibuprofen was better for treating pain, dentists still prescribe too much opioids.

"For many, dental care such as the extraction of wisdom teeth is the first exposure to opioids," he said. "Each year, 50,000 children could become new chronic users of opioids after something as simple as a wisdom tooth extraction."

Brummett's research has shown that simply filling an opioid prescription after wisdom tooth surgery has more than doubled the chances of continued use in patients who had not had it before. never took these drugs before.

In light of the epidemic, the American Dental Association has issued updated guidelines recommending the use of other pain medications, as well as maximum seven-day supply when opioids are needed.

Dr. Joel Funari, a physician from Pennsylvania, began more than five years ago to reduce the writing of opioid prescriptions for his patients. "They do not have to fill it," he said, though he makes it available "as a tool".

Eighty percent of Dr. Funari's patients never fill the prescription for opioids. He said that taking the time to educate them reduces the likelihood that they actually use it.

Earley said she hoped more families would be informed of alternatives to opioids after dental surgery. Almost a year after Saige's death, her grandson does not stop asking when her mother will come back.

"He remembers her," says Earley. "He'll take me to his room and he'll say, let's wait, let's just wait for mom." Julian is now 3 years old and will begin kindergarten this fall.

Brummett said it was still common for dentists to write an "emergency" prescription, but he said that it was misguided and potentially harmful.