A patient presents with acute dental pain. What is the recommended first-line analgesic prescription for moderate acute dental pain in a healthy adult patient?

Current evidence-based guidelines, including those from the ADA and oral surgery societies, recommend multimodal analgesia combining acetaminophen (paracetamol) with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen as the first-line treatment for moderate acute dental pain in healthy adults. This combination targets pain via complementary mechanisms (acetaminophen acts centrally; NSAIDs reduce peripheral prostaglandin synthesis and inflammation), producing superior pain relief compared to either drug alone, with reduced opioid requirements. Typical regimens: ibuprofen 400-600 mg + acetaminophen 325-500 mg every 6-8 hours. Opioids should be reserved for cases where this combination fails.