After dental extractions, cannabidiol emerges as an option for pain
According to dentist Cynthia De Carlo, studies indicate that cannabidiol may offer effective analgesia after dental extractions, especially for patients with restrictions to traditional analgesics
Published on 01/08/2026
CBD shows initial results in managing pain after simple dental surgeries | CanvaPro
Extracting teeth is not an easy task and recovery usually requires the use of analgesics to relieve pain. However, a new scientific perspective is starting to investigate whether cannabidiol (CBD) can safely and effectively fulfill this role in controlling acute dental pain.
A recent scientific study evaluated the use of cannabidiol as an alternative for pain relief after simple dental extractions, a common procedure in clinical practice. The research analyzed whether the non-psychoactive compound of cannabis could offer analgesic effects similar to traditionally used medications, such as ibuprofen and paracetamol.
The pilot clinical trial followed adults undergoing the extraction of a single tooth, divided into four groups: two received different concentrations of CBD orally, one used a placebo, and another followed the standard treatment with non-opioid analgesics. Pain intensity was monitored in the first 72 hours after the procedure.
Initial results and possible clinical applications
The data indicated that participants who received the highest concentration of CBD showed lower levels of pain throughout the evaluated period, with a behavior similar to that observed in the group treated with ibuprofen and paracetamol. On the other hand, the lower dose of cannabidiol did not show a significant difference compared to the placebo.
For dentist Cynthia De Carlo, a Sechat columnist and specialist in Integrative Dentistry, these findings reinforce the potential of CBD, especially for patients who have restrictions on the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. "There are studies indicating that a single dose of CBD can be as effective as current analgesic regimens in controlling emergency dental pain," she points out.
She also emphasizes that "pure CBD can provide over 70% analgesia in patients with acute dental pain, as well as functional improvement, such as increased bite force during the analgesic effect period". Evidence points to efficacy in doses of both 10 mg/kg/day and 20 mg/kg/day.
Safety and study limitations
The study also showed that the use of cannabidiol was well tolerated, with no reports of serious adverse events. The observed effects were mild and transient, such as drowsiness and dry mouth.
Despite the promising results, the authors emphasize that the small number of participants and the exploratory nature of the research limit the generalization of the data. New studies, with larger samples and a more robust design, are still needed before any broad clinical recommendation.
