NHS England has issued a new information sheet reminding dentists of the recommended medication for relieving dental pain and toothache
The new sheet available here summarises the analgesia recommendations found in the British National Formulary (BNF) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s clinical knowledge summary on analgesia for mild-to-moderate dental pain for both adults and children.
The advice says pain relief should only be used ‘in conjunction with local operative measures’.
This is in line with the FGDP’s antimicrobial prescribing guidance, which stresses the importance of definitive management of the cause of dental pain and/or infection.
Appropriate use of antibiotics for dental pain
UK dentists have a statutory duty to reduce the risk of antimicrobial resistance by ensuring appropriate use of antibiotics to combat dental pain.
The new sheet has been produced as part of the NHS’s Antibiotics Don’t Cure Toothache campaign and added to Public Health England’s dental antimicrobial stewardship toolkit.
It gives clear, simple and practical advice on when and what to prescribe, for how long and at what dosage.
Prescribing in primary dental care both to adults and children is also covered.
It is available free of charge online.
