Association Between Sublingual Buprenorphine-Naloxone Exposure and Dental Disease

Abstract

This study examines the association of sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone and dental adverse events using the IQVIA health claims database.

Sublingual Buprenorphine-Naloxone Exposure and Dental Disease

“…Although we agree that the possibility of confounding by indication in our study still exists, the results of our study did not change despite these additional analyses. In fact, these results are consistent with the FDA's analysis 3 and other case-series evidence. 4 We also agree with Dr Watson and colleagues that buprenorphine-naloxone has an important role in the treatment of opioid use disorder.…”

“…1 However, transdermal buprenorphine is typically prescribed for pain management and explicitly not recommended for opioid use disorder treatment, and oral naltrexone is more commonly recommended for alcohol use disorder treatment. 3,4 Therefore, it is possible that less than one-fourth of patients in this study 1 had prior or current opioid use disorder.…”

“…People who use unregulated opioids, such as heroin or fentanyl, have additional risks of dental disease due to other common factors including tobacco smoking, lack of insurance, and other barriers to adequate health care. 2 We believe that the study reported in the recent Research Letter by Dr Etminan and colleagues 3 does not help patients and clinicians understand the risks of buprenorphine-naloxone on dental disease because it compared buprenorphine-naloxone with treatments for unrelated health conditions.…”

“…We believe that the study reported in the recent Research Letter by Dr Etminan and colleagues does not help patients and clinicians understand the risks of buprenorphine-naloxone on dental disease because it compared buprenorphine-naloxone with treatments for unrelated health conditions.…”

Sublingual Buprenorphine-Naloxone Exposure and Dental Disease

“…2 In addition, pharmacies are located in areas that are medically underserved and have shortages of primary care clinicians. 3 Community pharmacies are ideal locations to provide patient-centered, clinical services that are important to public health. Examples include point-of-care testing and vaccinations, both of which were essential to the US response to the COVID-19 pandemic.…”