pain relief

Can Turmeric Help with Braces? The Truth About Curcumin Mouthwash

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Getting braces is a major milestone, but the first month often comes with a literal “pain in the mouth.” From rubbing brackets to poking wires, traumatic ulcers (mouth sores) are a common rite of passage for orthodontic patients. A recent clinical trial explored whether Curcumin—the active compound found in turmeric—could act as a natural shield against these painful sores. Here is what the science says about using a curcumin rinse during your first 28 days of treatment. The Study at a Glance Researchers conducted a double-blind, randomized clinical trial with 70 patients (aged 12–30) starting their orthodontic journey. Half used a curcumin mouthwash, while the other half used a placebo. What was measured? Image by Deepak Singh from Pixabay The Results: Does it Work? While curcumin is famous for its healing properties, the results were a mix of “not quite” … Read more

Do Patients Desire Liposomal Bupivacaine After Wisdom Teeth Surgery

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An interesting article titled “Are Patients Interested in Liposomal Bupivacaine as a Nonopioid Alternative for Postsurgical Analgesia Following Third Molar Extractions?” written by Annie Ho and et. al. appears in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (online August 9, 2023). The article seeks to determine a patient interest in the use of Liposomal Bupivacaine as an alternative to opioids after wisdom teeth extraction. Studies have shown that patients given opioids after surgery have a 44% increased risk of long-term opioid use. Long lasting local anesthetics like liposomal bupivacaine (LB) were first approved in the U.S by the Food and Drug Administration in2011. Only a single dose to the surgical site is needed for postsurgical analgesia. Research has shown that Liposomal Bupivacaine can lower cumulative pain scores, reduce opioid requirements, and make for faster discharges from the hospital. Although Liposomal … Read more

Using Low Dose Naltrexone for Treating Burning Mouth Syndrome

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An interesting article titled “Low Dose Naltrexone for Treatment of Burning Mouth Syndrome” appears in Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, and Oral Radiology written by L. Sangalli and C. S. Miller (Published April 30, 2022). The article discusses using a low dosage of naltrexone to treat burning mouth syndrome (BMS) that started after a woman had a tooth extraction. In the article discussion is made of a 62 year old woman who had been experiencing BMS the the last three years. She had had a tooth extracted three years earlier and the pain she was experiencing was at the site of the extraction. After some time pain went away but then a year or so after the extraction the woman began experiencing BMS at the dorsum of her tongue. She reported tingling and burning sensations and the pain flucated between … Read more

Oral Surgeon Opioid Prescribing Habits in the US during 2016 to 2019

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An interesting article titled “Opioid prescribing by oral and maxillofacial surgeons in the United States, 2016–2019” written by Tumader Khouj, Deborah E. Polk, and Katie J. Suda, appears in the October 9th, 2022, issue of the Journal of Public Health Dentistry. The article describes opioid prescribing trends among oral and maxillofacial surgeons (OMFS) in the United States during 2016 to 2019. In the past on this site several articles have covered opioid prescribing habits, see for example Assessing the Impact of Three Day Opioids Limits for Dentists, Insurance Companies Limiting Access to Opioids After Wisdom Teeth Surgery, Reducing Opioids in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and Dentists Overprescribing Opioids to Adults in the U.S.. In the article, the authors conducted a retrospective analysis of IQVIA Longitudinal Prescription Dataset (LRx) from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2019, that includes 92% of … Read more

Factors that Influence Opioid Prescribing After Teeth Removal

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An interesting article titled “Factors influencing opioid prescribing after tooth extraction,” appears in the  Journal of the American Dental Association written by Douglas R. Oyler and et al. (published June 9, 2022). The article seeks to look at specific characteristics that infuence opioid prescribing after tooth extractions to help potentially lead to less opioid that are uncessarily prescibed. The subect of opioids and wisdom teeth extractions has been covered on this site frequently before, see for example the posts, Record Numbers Predicted to Die from Opioids in the US and Dentists Overprescribing Opioids to Adults in the U.S.. Patients in the U.S. are often first exposed to an opioid prescription from a dentist or dental care provider. Even so nowadays many dentists recommend nonopioid analgesics as the first option against pain reflief. In the article the authors reviewed records from … Read more