University of Pittsburgh researchers have developed an evidence-based decision aid to help dentists and emergency department providers engage in shared decision making with patients for the management of acute dental pain.
Description
Patients with acute dental pain, which may arise from a common wisdom tooth removal or a serious infection, are often prescribed opioid medications for management of pain. The goal of this novel decision aid is to reduce opioid prescriptions for acute dental pain, which can lead to opioid-related morbidity and mortality in the United States. The decision aid, called MATCH-IT, is designed to facilitate shared decision making by allowing the presentation of multiple comparisons, incorporating information about adverse effects, and tailoring for patient-centered focus.
Applications
· Acute dental pain
· Pain management
Advantages
There are currently no evidence-based decision aids for managing acute dental pain, making this the first evidence-based, digital, interactive decision aid for this purpose. The research team, funded by the FDA and a collaboration between the American Dental Association and Pitt Dental Medicine, highlights the better pain relief from over-the-counter medications compared to opioids for most patients.
Invention Readiness
This invention’s current development status is mentioned as copyright (non-software).
IP Status
Copyright
