Dental Analgesia — ORE Part 1 MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

EasyPharmacology & TherapeuticsDental AnalgesiaORE Part 1

An adult with moderate dental pain has no contraindication to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or paracetamol. Which analgesic regimen is recommended first line in current UK dental guidance?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: C — Ibuprofen 400 mg or paracetamol 1 g

**A is correct.** For an adult with moderate dental pain and no relevant contraindications, SDCEP recommends either ibuprofen 400 mg or paracetamol 1 g, taken at appropriate intervals without exceeding maximum daily doses. Ibuprofen and paracetamol may also be used together when clinically appropriate, but the decisive first-line choices are these simple non-opioid analgesics. Codeine and tramadol are opioid analgesics and are not routine first-line management for uncomplicated dental pain. Diclofenac is an NSAID, but it is not the SDCEP first-line regimen specified for moderate dental pain; aspirin is also unsuitable as a routine choice, particularly where bleeding is relevant. Definitive dental treatment remains necessary because analgesia does not treat the cause of dental pain.

Reference: Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP). Emergency Dental Care: Analgesic advice, 2021. https://www.sdcep.org.uk/media/wfrjkqax/edc-guidance.pdf