A single oral dose of cannabidiol (CBD) provides relief from acute dental pain, according to a randomized, placebo-controlled trial published in the Journal of Dental Research.
Conducted by researchers at the University of Texas at San Antonio, Rutgers School of Dental Medicine and the University of Texas Health Science Center, the study is titled Cannabidiol as an Alternative Analgesic for Acute Dental Pain.
“Odontogenic pain can be debilitating, and nonopioid analgesic options are limited”, states the study’s abstract. “This randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of cannabidiol (CBD) as an analgesic for patients with emergency acute dental pain.”
For the study 61 patients with moderate to severe toothache were randomized into three groups: CBD10 (CBD 10 mg/kg), CBD20 (CBD 20 mg/kg), and placebo.
Researchers administered a single dose of respective oral solution and monitored the subjects for three hours. The primary outcome measure was the numerical pain differences using a visual analog scale (VAS) from baseline within and among the groups. Secondary outcome measures included ordinal pain intensity differences, the onset of significant pain relief, maximum pain relief, changes in bite force within and among the groups, psychoactive effects, mood changes, and other adverse events.
“Both CBD groups resulted in significant VAS pain reduction compared to their baseline and the placebo group, with a maximum median VAS pain reduction of 73% from baseline pain at the 180-min time point (P < 0.05). CBD20 experienced a faster onset of significant pain relief than CBD10 (15 versus 30 min after drug administration), and both groups reached maximum pain relief at 180-min”, states the study. “Number needed to treat was 3.1 for CBD10 and 2.4 for CBD20.”
Intragroup comparisons “showed a significant increase in bite forces in both CBD groups (P < 0.05) but not in the placebo group (P > 0.05). CBD20 resulted in a significant difference in mean percent bite force change in the 90- and 180-min time points compared to the placebo group (P < 0.05).”
Compared to placebo, “sedation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain were significantly associated with the CBD groups (P < 0.05). There were no other significant psychoactive or mood change effects.”
Researchers conclude:
This randomized trial provides the first clinical evidence that oral CBD can be an effective and safe analgesic for dental pain.
You can find the full text of this study by clicking here.
