THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HAS DECLARED THE NATIONAL OPIOID CRISIS A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY¹

Despite the risk of addiction, similar or lower efficacy and higher rates of acute adverse events compared with OTC NSAIDs, opioids still may be prescribed too often for pain relief. This practice has helped contribute to unprecedented levels of opioid addiction and overdose deaths.^2,3

THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HAS DECLARED THE NATIONAL OPIOID CRISIS A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY

Name: Aleve
Brand: Aleve

US map and statistics on Opioid crisis in US.

During the COVID pandemic, the opioid crisis has been exacerbated even further⁵

The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reported that overdose deaths from opioids rose from 50,178 in 2019 to 105,521 in 2024.⁵

With the current opioid crisis, consider other options for treating minor dental pain¹

A recent study shows that opioids are not associated with greater patient satisfaction for pain management after dental extractions.⁶

Recommendations from various organizations to use NSAIDs as first line of treatment for pain management.

Dr. M. Ted Wong recommends NSAIDs like Aleve for dental pain to help reduce opioid use.

Aleve^® is a non-opioid OTC NSAID that, in a single-center, randomized, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled study, was shown to be as effective* as hydrocodone plus acetaminophen (HYD+APAP) for dental pain, lasted longer, and was better tolerated.²

*In hours 0 to 4 of a single-dose dental study of Aleve^® (440 mg), HYD+APAP (10 mg + 650 mg), or placebo. Aleve^® is indicated for minor aches and pains.^2,15

CONSIDER ALEVE^® FOR FIRST-LINE TREATMENT OF MINOR DENTAL PAIN^2,15

References

Department of Health and Human Services. Determination that a public health emergency exists. October 26, 2017. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/opioid%20PHE%20Declaration-no-sig.pdf
Cooper SA, Desjardins PJ, Bertoch T, et al. Analgesic efficacy of naproxen sodium versus hydrocodone/acetaminophen in acute postsurgical dental pain: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial 2021. doi:10.1080/00325481.2021.2008180.
 Manchikanti L, Singh A. Therapeutic opioids: a ten-year perspective on the complexities and complications of the escalating use, abuse, and nonmedical use of opioids. Pain Physician. 2008;11(2 Suppl):S63-S88. 
Scholl L, Seth P, Kariisa M, Wilson N, Baldwin G. Drug and opioid-involved overdose deaths—United States, 2013-2017. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2019;67(51-52):1419-1427.  
 Ahmad FB, Rossen LM, Sutton P. Provisional drug overdose death counts. National Center for Health Statistics. 2021. Accessed October 9, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/drug-overdose-data.htm 
Nalliah RP, Sloss KR, Kenney BC, et al. Association of opioid use with pain and satisfaction after dental extraction. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(3):e200901. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.0901  
American Dental Association announces new policy to combat opioid epidemic. News release. American Dental Association. March 26, 2018. Accessed October 16, 2025. https://www.ada.org/about/press-releases/2018-archives/american-dental-association-announces-new-policy-to-combat-opioid-epidemic  
American Dental Association. Statement on the use of opioids in the treatment of dental pain. October 2016. Accessed October 16, 2025. https://www.ada.org/about/governance/current-policies#substanceusedisorders
American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Opioid prescribing: acute and postoperative pain management; 2025. White Paper. Accessed October 9, 2025. https://aaoms.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/opioid_prescribing.pdf
Nalamachu S, Pendergrass S, Vega C. Over-the-counter analgesics for the management of acute pain:clinical experience in the era of the opioid crisis. Accessed July 28, 2021. https://www.getreliefresponsiblyprofessional.com/sites/getreliefresponsiblyhcp_us/files/over-the-counter-analgesics-for-themanagement-of-acute-pain.pdf
Dowell D, Haegerich T, Chou R. CDC guideline for prescribing opioids for chronic pain—United States, 2016. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2016;65(1):1-49. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr6501e1
Blondell R, Azadfard M, Wisniewski A. Pharmacologic herapy for acute pain. Am Fam Physician. 2013;87(11):766-772.
Suda K, Zhou J, Rowan S, et al. Overprescribing of opioids to adults by dentists in the U.S., 2011-2015. Am J Prev Med. 2020;58(4):473-486. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2019.11.006
Katz J, Smith S, Collins J, et al. Cost-effectiveness of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opioids in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis in older patients with multiple comorbidities. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2016;24(3):409-418. doi:10.1016/j.joca.2015.10.006
Aleve®Caplets. Drug facts. Bayer HealthCare; January 2025

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