Recent revelations regarding an area physician and the alleged over prescribing of narcotic pain medication serves as a good lesson for the use of restraint when treating patients. Physicians and dentists are given the enormous responsibility of prescribing all types of medications, including narcotic pain medication. Narcotic pain medication like codeine, hydrocodone, and oxycodone are necessary and helpful drugs when used to control pain, but are also potentially addicting or lethal if abused.

Dentists will often need to prescribe potent narcotic pain medication either before are after dental treatment. If a patient comes to the dental office with a toothache, and the dentist does not have time for the required treatment, a dentist may prescribe antibiotics and pain medication until the patient can be rescheduled. Certain dental treatment, including removal of teeth, root canal, gum surgery, biopsies, and other surgical treatment can sometimes cause pain for several days during the healing process. To effectively manage this pain, it is often appropriate for the dentist to prescribe narcotic pain medication.

Despite the need for narcotic pain medication, dentists should always be prudent with their use. As a rule, I try to avoid the prescription of oxycodone (Percocet) for dental pain because it has a high potential for addiction. I will most often prescribe hydrocodone (Vicodin) for severe dental pain because it is less addicting and relatively easy for the body to metabolize. I also limit the amount of narcotic pain pills I prescribe from between eight to twelve, enough for two to three days. Narcotic pain medication should only be taken when pain is intolerable. In many cases, over the counter pain medication like ibuprophen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve), or acetaminophen (Tylenol) will be sufficient to relieve pain related to dental treatment.

Although narcotic pain medication is sometimes needed to alleviate the pain associated with dental treatment, caution should be taken with its use. Narcotic pain medication should never be taken with alcohol, when driving a car or when operating heavy equipment. Always read the directions and warnings provided by your dentist and pharmacist when taking this type of medication.