Benefits and harms associated with analgesic medications used in the management of acute dental pain: An overview of systematic reviews

Overview (5 systematic reviews) suggests nonsteroidal meds, +/- paracetamol, offered most favourable balance between benefits and harms, optimising efficacy while minimising acute adverse events. Opioid containing meds were associated most frequently with acute adverse events.

The number of patients needed to treat for benefit was 1.5 (95% CI 1.4-1.7) for ibuprofen 400mg plus paracetamol 1000mg and 3.6 (3.2-4.1) for paracetamol 1000mg.

 

The number of patients needed to treat to harm was 0.6 (95% CI 1.4-1.7) for ibuprofen 400mg plus paracetamol 1000mg and 1.4 (1.2-1.6) for paracetamol 1000mg plus codeine 60mg.