ArticleCommunity dentistry and oral epidemiology2026
Trends of Dispensed Opioids Prescribed by Australian Dentists: 2013-2022.
Article in Community dentistry and oral epidemiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Utilisation and Shortages of Dental Medicines in Australia From 2014 to 2025: A Retrospective Time-Series Study.International journal of dentistry · 2026Article
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10 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundIn Australia, the prescribing of opioid medicines by dentists has increased in recent years, despite opioids not being first-line treatment for dental pain. The aim of this longitudinal study was to examine the dispensing of opioids prescribed by dentists in Australia during 2013-2022.
methodA nationally representative 10% sample of patients identified from the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme dispensing data from 2013 to 2022 was used. Three outcomes were assessed: (1) incidence of dispensing of all dental prescriptions; (2) incidence of dispensing of opioids prescribed by dentists; (3) average number of tablets/capsules of dental opioid supply. Outcomes pertaining to opioid use were examined overall, and by year, age and sex.
resultsFrom 2013 to 2022, 998 774 dental prescriptions (of any kind) were dispensed to 470 118 patients. The mean annual incidence rate for dispensing any dental medication was 48.4 (95% CI: 48.3-48.5)/1000 person-years. Opioids accounted for 183 303 prescriptions (18.4%), with a mean annual incidence rate of 11.0 (95% CI: 11.0-11.1)/1000 person-years. The majority of patients (99.1%) were dispensed ≤ 4 opioid prescriptions across the 10-year period, with 0.9% of patients (n = 1312) receiving between 5 and 149 dispensed opioids. Over the study period, the average annual incidence of dispensed dental opioids increased by 4.4% (95% CI: 1.0-8.2). A reduction in the mean quantity of opioid pills dispensed was observed over time. Dental opioids were dispensed to 2727 children and adolescents.
conclusionThe incidence of dispensing of dental opioids in Australia increased by an average of 4.4% per year over a decade. While there was a reduction in opioid quantities dispensed, dispensing of opioids for children occurred, and a small number of patients were dispensed excessive quantities of dental opioids. Evidence-based tailored opioid stewardship interventions need to include dentists, and dentists should be provided access to drug monitoring programmes to enable more informed prescribing decisions.
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