One of the most common sequela associated with dentistry and dental treatment is acute post-operative pain. Almost every procedure associated with dental treatment has the potential to cause some degree of post-operative pain requiring multi-faceted management. Today’s clinician has a large armamentarium of pharmacological agents to draw from to control acute post-operative pain. Depending on the anticipated severity of postoperative pain, these agents may include acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) and opioids. Attendees in this lecture will be introduced to evidence-based information related to the basic mechanisms of pain, the pharmacology of analgesics and the rationale for the selection of an analgesic for the treatment of acute odontogenic pain. Also, other newer analgesics (particularly used for chronic facial and TMJ pain) will be discussed. The common adverse drug reactions and drug interactions associated with these agents will also be discussed.
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss the physiology of pain
- Review and discuss the pharmacology of the most common analgesics used in dentistry to treat acute and chronic pain
- Recognize potential drug interactions and adverse drug events associated with the use of analgesics commonly prescribed by dental practitioners and understand the importance of organ function/ disease status in altering the absorption, distribution, metabolism and therapeutic action of dentally used analgesics.