The Journal of the American Dental Association
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Review Comparative Study
Selecting new drugs for pain control: evidence-based decisions or clinical impressions?
Selecting drugs for pain control in dentistry should be based on scientific research rather than clinical impressions. This article highlights the scientific attributes of analgesic medications that make them practical for treating postoperative dental pain. ⋯ Selecting drugs for the short-term relief of postoperative dental pain should be based on a careful assessment of all relevant pharmacological characteristics of a given agent, especially those related to maximum dosage, duration of action and efficacy.