@article {MatthewsE497, author = {Debora C. Matthews and Martha G.S. Brillant and Kudirat O. Jimoh and Winston Singleton and Pamela McLean-Veysey and Ingrid Sketris}, title = {Patterns of opioid prescribing by dentists in a pediatric population: a retrospective observational study}, volume = {7}, number = {3}, pages = {E497--E503}, year = {2019}, doi = {10.9778/cmajo.20190021}, publisher = {Canadian Medical Association Open Access Journal}, abstract = {Background: Dentists are regular prescribers of opioid analgesic medications; however, there are few published data on their prescribing practices for children. The aim of this study was to assess opioid prescribing practices of dentists for pediatric patients.Methods: We conducted a retrospective study (2011/12 to 2017/18) using administrative health data of opioid prescribing practices of dentists in Nova Scotia for children and adolescents (age \< 18 yr). The main variables of interest were opioid {\textquotedblleft}type{\textquotedblright} and {\textquotedblleft}load{\textquotedblright} dentists prescribed (number of dispensed prescriptions/yr, days supplied/prescription and dosage/d per prescription in milligrams of morphine equivalents [MME]).Results: Dentists accounted for a mean of 18.3\% (standard deviation 1.5\%) of all opioid prescribers for the pediatric population annually but were responsible for 59.9\% of all opioid prescriptions and 48.6\% of total MME dispensed during the 7-year study period. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons were responsible for 80.7\% of all dental-related opioids dispensed. Codeine was most frequently prescribed (78.6\% of total MME), followed by oxycodone (11.1\%). There were significant downward trends over the study period in the total amount of opioid analgesics dispensed (r = -0.903, p \< 0.01), primarily due to a reduction in the total amount of codeine dispensed and number of days supplied per prescription (r = -0.837, p \< 0.05). Few opioids were dispensed to children less than 12 years.Interpretation: Dentists in Nova Scotia reduced prescriptions of opioids in the pediatric population between 2011/12 and 2017/18, which may indicate that current opioid prescribing principles are influencing dentists{\textquoteright} prescribing habits. Nonetheless, patients and parents should receive appropriate counselling as to the proper use, risks, storage and potential for misuse of opioids when prescribed.}, URL = {https://www.cmajopen.ca/content/7/3/E497}, eprint = {https://www.cmajopen.ca/content/7/3/E497.full.pdf}, journal = {Canadian Medical Association Open Access Journal} }