A new Missouri law limits the amount of opioid tablets dentists can prescribe for acute pain.
The law, signed by Gov. Mike Parson on July 11, dictates that dentists should not prescribe more than 50 morphine milligram equivalent (MME) per day for acute pain -- the equivalent of 10 tablets of hydrocodone/acetaminophen.
The law also prohibits dentists from using long-acting or extended-release opioid analgesics for acute pain. When necessary, dentists can prescribe long-acting opioids or doses more than 500 MME, but they must use a patient's dental record to document necessity.
In addition, the law mandates prescriptions must include labels with the prescribing doctor's or dentist's name. It also establishes a substance use and abuse task force to conduct hearings, explore solutions, and draft or modify legislation as necessary.
