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Dental Pain Management — NDEB AFK MCQ

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ModeratePharmacologyDental Pain ManagementNDEB AFK

Which analgesic combination has been shown to provide superior analgesia to opioid-containing regimens for acute dental pain?

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

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Correct answer: DIbuprofen 400 mg plus acetaminophen 500 mg

The combination of ibuprofen 400 mg and acetaminophen (paracetamol) 500 mg has been demonstrated in systematic reviews and meta-analyses to provide analgesia equivalent or superior to many opioid-containing regimens for acute dental pain, with fewer adverse effects. This combination provides both peripheral (COX inhibition) and central analgesic mechanisms. CDA guidelines recommend this as first-line for post-extraction pain, reserving opioids for exceptional cases.

Reference: CDA – Statement on NSAID Use for Dental Pain; Moore PA et al – JADA, 2018