Self-medication practices for managing tooth pain amongst patients attending oral surgery clinics

Aim and objectives: 1 To assess the prevalence of self-medication practices for tooth pain amongst patients seeking dental care in the Oral Surgery Department. 2 To identify reasons for self-medication. 3 To assess the awareness of the side effects and contra indications of the drugs used for self-medication. Material and methods: 300 patients over the age of 14 years attending the out patient clinic of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinics complaining of tooth pain were given a questionnaire containing 18 questions pertaining to the practice of self medication. Results: 59% of the respondents in the study reported self medication for tooth pain and almost 86% of these individuals obtained pain relief. However only a very few were aware of the dosage, side effects and contra indications of these medicines. Conclusion: Self medication is desirable when used responsibly. Hence modifications in self medication practices, such as, patient education, display of basic drug information on the drug packages, and stringent and uniform international laws regarding drug dispensing will optimize the present health care system.