Pharmacology · single question
CASE 3 — Same patient: Tooth #3 has Grade III mobility and will be extracted. What is the best post-operative pain management?
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Correct answer: C. Acetaminophen + Ibuprofen
- A. Ketorolac + APAP is used for more intense acute pain; ibuprofen+APAP has stronger first-line evidence for routine dental extractions.
- B. Oxycodone (opioid) should not be first-line for routine extractions — not superior to NSAID+APAP for dental pain and carries significant addiction risk.
- C. Acetaminophen + Ibuprofen (multimodal non-opioid analgesia) is the current gold standard for post-extraction dental pain. Complementary mechanisms (APAP: central; NSAIDs: peripheral anti-inflammatory) provide superior pain control without opioids. Supported by ADA and AAOMS guidelines.
- D. Hydrocodone (opioid) — same rationale as oxycodone; NSAID+APAP should be first-line.