Letters to the Editor

Studies have previously reported accidental analgesia overdoses in patients attempting to self-manage their dental pain because of difficulty in accessing emergency dental services.^1,2 The UK and many other countries have paused routine care and re-structured public health services to provide emergency dental care only during the COVID-19 pandemic. This reduced availability of dental services, in addition to self-isolation recommendations, are likely to result in patients self-managing symptoms of dental pain with over-the-counter analgesics, such as acetaminophen (paracetamol) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and they are therefore at greater risk of analgesia overdose.^3,4

It is important that patients in pain receive urgent care advice and intervention, as appropriate. For example, patients experiencing symptomatic pulpitis require extirpation of the pulp or extraction of the tooth, but it may be appropriate to manage any delay, for a short period during the pandemic, with analgesics and ask for guidance should symptoms worsen.