title: Prescription of opioid analgesics for nontraumatic dental conditions in emergency departments.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Opioid analgesics prescribed for nontraumatic dental conditions (NTDCs) by emergency physicians continue to receive attention because of the associated potential for misuse, abuse and addiction. This study examined rates of prescription of opioid analgesics and types of opioid analgesics prescribed for NTDC visits in U.S. emergency departments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey from 2007 to 2010 were analyzed. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were performed and adjusted for the survey design.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NTDCs made up 1.7% of all ED visits from 2007 to 2010. The prescription of opioid analgesics was 50.3% for NTDC and 14.8% for non-NTDC visits. The overall rate of opioid analgesics prescribed for NTDCs remained fairly stable from 2007 through 2010. Prescription of opioids was highest among patients aged 19-33 years (56.8%), self-paying (57.1%), and non-Hispanic Whites (53.2%). The probability of being prescribed hydrocodone was highest among uninsured patients (68.7%) and for oxycodone, it was highest among private insurance patients (33.6%). Compared to 34-52 year olds, children 0-4 years were significantly more likely to be prescribed codeine and less likely to be prescribed oxycodone. Compared to non-Hispanic Whites, non-Hispanic Blacks had significantly higher odds of been prescribed codeine and somewhat lower odds of been prescribed oxycodone, but it was not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no significant change in the rates of opioid analgesics prescribed over time for NTDC visits to EDs. Age, payer type and race/ethnicity were significant predictors for the prescription of different opioid analgesics by emergency physicians for NTDC visits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Services, School of Dentistry, P.O. Box 1881, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53201, United States. Electronic address: christopher.okunseri@marquette.edu.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Okunseri
authors.affiliation: Department of Foundational Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, United States; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, United States.
authors.forename: Raymond A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Dionne
authors.affiliation: Department of Foundational Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, United States.
authors.forename: Sharon M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Services, School of Dentistry, P.O. Box 1881, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53201, United States.
authors.forename: Elaye
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Okunseri
authors.affiliation: Division of Biostatistics, Institute of Health and Society, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States.
authors.forename: Aniko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szabo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003061:Codeine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006853:Hydrocodone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D057970:Inappropriate Prescribing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010098:Oxycodone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014098:Toothache / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D006853:Hydrocodone; D010098:Oxycodone; D003061:Codeine
keywords: Dental care; Emergency departments; Opioid analgesic drugs