Dental Painkiller Addiction Prevention Aids Offered

A Philadelphia dentist is helping to combat the tragic crisis of Opioid addiction.

Rick Wilson, DMD, principal of Sukoneck and Wilson PC, 2401 Pennsylvania Ave., Philadelphia, PA, has initiated Philadelphia radio public service information for dental patients that can also be heard on the Internet.

He reports that dental patients having involved dental surgery, or wisdom teeth removed, often receive prescriptions that include powerful pain relievers, like OxyContin, Hydrocodone, Fentanyl and others.

These medications can be superb at managing short-term, acute pain. Yet, they are now known to be inappropriate for treating chronic pain, and in any use, can lead to addiction.

His suggestion towards opioid prevention includes:

…Having dentists provide a professional discussion with patients- -especially young people on whether they can, or cannot abide non-opioid pain killers.

…Taking only small doses, for short periods of time.

…Accepting limits on re-fills.

…Having excess painkillers made non-available by locking them up- -or destroying them.

…He also encourages colleagues to register and utilize the new Pennsylvania Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, which provides online resources and reporting data on prescription drug use in Pennsylvania.

Dr. Wilson is recognized for his dental firm’s up-to-date dental procedures, tooth restorations, dental implants- -and patient’s comforts during procedures.

For courtesy information contact Dr. Wilson at 215-765-5281 or e-mail at rwilson@smilephiladelphian.com.