Sublingual Buprenorphine/Naloxone associated with more adverse dental outcomes

Canadian researchers are warning about a higher risk for adverse dental outcomes associated with sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone compared with transdermal buprenorphine or oral naltrexone.

According to a research letter published in current of the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, used the PharMetrics database to examine the association between sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone and dental adverse events.

Participants in the new study included: 21,404 new users of sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone; 5,385 users of transdermal buprenorphine; and 6,616 users of oral naltrexone.

Comparing “dental adverse events”

The scientists found varying incidence levels of “dental adverse event” between the different user groups: 21.6 per 1,000 person-years with sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone; 12.2 per 1,000 person-years with transdermal buprenorphine; and 10.9 per 1,000 person-years with oral naltrexone. The risk for dental adverse events was higher for sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone versus both transdermal buprenorphine and oral naltrexone.

In addition, the incidence of dental caries or tooth loss was 8.2 per 1,000 person-years with sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone; 3.5 per 1,000 person-years with transdermal buprenorphine; and 3.8 per 1,000 person-years with oral naltrexone.

Higher risk for dental caries/ tooth loss

Similarly, the scientists observed a higher risk for dental caries or tooth loss for sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone versus both transdermal buprenorphine and oral naltrexone.

“Clinicians might consider drugs other than sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone in patients with previous dental problems,” the authors wrote. “These patients might also benefit from regular oral health examinations by their dentist.”

Click here for the article: Association Between Sublingual Buprenorphine-Naloxone Exposure and Dental Disease.

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