National Dental Assisting Examining Board (NDAEB) Practice Exam

Are antidepressants commonly used in dentistry for pain relief?

1. True

2. False

3. Only for mental health patients

4. Only in pediatric dentistry

The correct answer is: False

Antidepressants are not commonly used in dentistry for pain relief. While they can be effective for chronic pain management in certain conditions, their primary use is in the treatment of mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety. In dental practice, pain relief is typically managed through analgesics, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioids, rather than antidepressants. Antidepressants might sometimes be considered in specific cases, such as managing dental anxiety or in patients already being treated for depression, but this is not a standard practice for general pain management in dental procedures. The use of antidepressants in dentistry is not routine, thus making the assertion that they are commonly used incorrect. It is essential to differentiate between the roles of medications and their primary indications, which is why the answer indicates that the statement is false.