The American Dental Association recently released new guidance for managing pain in pediatric patients.
The agency recommended acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as a first-line treatment for managing acute dental pain in patients younger than 12, according to an Aug. 25 news release. Either medication or a combination of the two can manage pain after a tooth extraction or during a toothache when dental care is not immediately available, the ADA said.
The guideline was developed by the ADA's Science & Research Institute, the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine and the Center for Integrative Global Oral Health at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in Philadelphia. It is also in line with recommendations given by the FDA in 2017.