Opioid use in the U.S. is rampant despite the fact that these medications can be misused, abused and have significant side effects.
Unfortunately, during the spring and summer months, even more opioids will be prescribed as thousands of high school graduates and college students plan to visit an oral surgeon for procedures, including wisdom tooth removal.
A new national survey of parents and patients conducted by Nielsen found:
An overwhelming majority of patients (70%) who had their wisdom teeth removed were prescribed an opioid for their pain management
7 in 10 patients would have opted for a non-opioid medication if given the choice
80% would select a non-opioid option even if the cost was higher
