SmartMouth: Helping dentists use safer pain medicines after dental procedures
Official title: SmartMouth: Nudging Dentists Towards Evidence-based Pain Management
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston · NIH-11299964 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A project that tests a tech-based approach to help dentists prescribe fewer opioids and use acetaminophen with NSAIDs for post-surgical dental pain, especially after wisdom tooth removals.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 7, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $821,788 |
| NIH project number | 1UG3DE034676-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11299964 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Dentists and dental patients undergoing post-operative dental extractions, particularly adolescents and young adults.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose pain is not adequately controlled by non-opioid strategies or who require specialized care.
What this research studies
This project uses monthly electronic dashboards to guide dentists toward evidence-based pain management after tooth extractions. It focuses on reducing opioid prescriptions in adolescents and adults while ensuring adequate pain control with safer drug combinations. The study will implement and evaluate technology-based nudges to change prescribing habits in dental practice.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive safer, effective pain relief after dental surgery with fewer opioids.
How similar studies have gone: Similar behavior-change approaches have reduced inappropriate prescribing in other medical fields, but this is the first in dentistry.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tokede, Bunmi — University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
- Study coordinator: Tokede, Bunmi
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.