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Acetominophen: Good Pain Relief after Extractions |
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Written by Vu Le, DDS
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 A recent study out of an Engligh dental school showed that Acetominophen (most commonly marketed as Tylenol) is a safe and effective pain reliever after wisdom tooth extractions. The most effective dose appears to be 1000mg every six hours, which is equal to 2 extra strength capsules. If your stomach can't tolerate ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin), then acetominophen may be a great alternative for relief of dental pain after extractions, and perhaps other dental procedures as well.
The review examined data from 1,968 patients enrolled in studies that
compared the effectiveness of acetaminophen versus placebo to decrease
pain after surgical extraction of the third molars, or lower wisdom
teeth. The review included patients who received local anesthesia,
intravenous sedation or general anesthesia; however, it excluded
patients who took pain relievers at the time of surgery.
All patients reported moderate to severe pain just after surgery.
Researchers tallied the number of patients who reported 50 percent pain
relief at four and six hours after surgery.
Patients who received any dose of acetaminophen after surgery were at
least three times more likely to report 50 percent pain relief than
patients who took a placebo. However, patients given the higher dose of
1,000 milligrams were four to five times more likely to report that
their pain was cut in half. Study participants who took less than 1,000
milligrams were about twice as likely to report 50 percent pain relief.
Patients treated with acetaminophen reported a similar number of side
effects as patients who received a placebo. However, researchers
monitored patients taking acetaminophen, and Weil cautions that side
effects are less likely to occur under controlled circumstances.
The maximum recommended dose of acetaminophen is 4,000 milligrams per day for adults.
Acetaminophen can cause liver toxicity when an individual exceeds the
maximum daily dose. Heavy drinkers, malnourished patients and people
with AIDS or anorexia nervosa also have an increased risk for liver
toxicity.
While the review shows acetaminophen is effective for pain relief, oral
surgeon Morton Rosenberg said many dentists prescribe analgesics plus
narcotic pain relievers after surgical removal of wisdom teeth.
"This is a procedure where the dentist is working on bone and cutting
oral tissue. These are some of the strongest stimuli for pain that we
know of," said Rosenberg, professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery
at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston.
Read the original article at Medical News Today.
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