title: Dental therapeutic practice patterns in the U.S. II. Analgesics, corticosteroids, and antibiotics.
abstract: This article examines the prescribing practices for peripherally acting and centrally acting analgesics, corticosteroids, and antibiotics following third molar extraction. A nationwide survey involving the prescribing patterns of a random national sample of 850 practicing oral surgeons was performed in 2004. Ibuprofen was the peripherally acting analgesic respondents used most frequently in the previous month, selected by 73.5% of the respondents. The ibuprofen dose prescribed most frequently was 800 mg, followed by doses of 600 mg and 400 mg. The centrally acting analgesic prescribed most frequently was the combination formulation of hydrocodone with acetaminophen, selected by 64.0% of the respondents. Recommendations for oral analgesics to manage postoperative pain relied on the peripherally acting analgesic ibuprofen or the centrally acting analgesic combination formulation hydrocodone with acetaminophen. Routine instructions to use centrally acting analgesics "as needed for pain" suggest that centrally acting analgesics are offered to manage pain that postoperative peripherally acting analgesics and intraoperative long-acting local anesthetics do not control adequately. The frequency with which oral and maxillofacial surgeons administered antibiotics and corticosteroids varied widely based on perceived patient need and dentist expectations.
authors.affiliation: Oral Health Science Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Helen S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Nahouraii
authors.forename: Jayme G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Zovko
authors.forename: Stephen R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Wisniewski
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004338:Drug Combinations; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006853:Hydrocodone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013515:Surgery, Oral / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000700:Analgesics; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000082:Acetaminophen; D006853:Hydrocodone; D007052:Ibuprofen