Be aware of the connection between oral health and the opioid epidemic

Dr. John Chang and Gary Mendell

Special to Valley News

For approximately 5 million people each year, wisdom-teeth removal is part of the rite of passage into adulthood. But for some, wisdom-teeth extraction represents a first exposure to opioids, and a recent study from Stanford University found that teens can end up in a battle with these medications after the procedure.

The consequences of the epidemic are significant. Opioids each day cause more than 130 overdose deaths in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the annual economic cost exceeds $5...