Effect of narcotic pain reliever on pulp tests in women

J Endod. 2002 Jul;28(7):537-9. doi: 10.1097/00004770-200207000-00013.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of one dose of a common narcotic-based pain reliever (Vicodin) on a battery of oral sensitivity tests across time in women. Fifteen Caucasian women randomly were given an oral dose of 10 mg of hydrocodone/1000 mg of acetaminophen or placebo in a double-blind, cross-over design. At baseline (before drug) and after 2, 4, and 8 h each subject was evaluated for sensitivity thresholds with four tests around an experimental tooth: (a) electric pulp tester applied to exposed root; (b) electric pulp tester on adjacent mucosa; (c) increasing probe pressure (grams) on adjacent mucosa; and (d) decreasing cold probe (degrees C) on the exposed root. The outcomes of all tests were not statistically different between drug and placebo treatments at any time point (p > 0.05). These results suggest that a systemic dose of hydrocodone/acetaminophen has little impact on healthy pulp or mucosa sensitivity in women as measured by common diagnostic tests.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetaminophen / administration & dosage*
  • Administration, Oral
  • Adult
  • Analgesics, Opioid / administration & dosage*
  • Cold Temperature
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Dental Pulp Test* / methods
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Drug Combinations
  • Electrodiagnosis
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydrocodone / administration & dosage*
  • Middle Aged
  • Pain Threshold / drug effects*
  • Toothache / prevention & control*

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Drug Combinations
  • acetaminophen, hydrocodone drug combination
  • Acetaminophen
  • Hydrocodone