What do systematic reviews say?

Combined paracetamol plus ibuprofen in a single tablet (e.g. paracetamol 1000 mg/ibuprofen 400 mg or 500/200 mg) vs Single drugs given separately (paracetamol 1000 mg or ibuprofen 400 mg)

• Ibuprofen and/or paracetamol (acetaminophen) for pain relief after surgical removal of lower wisdom teeth 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Study period (immediate postoperative)
  The majority of adverse events were minor in nature and usually included nausea, vomiting, headaches and dizziness. Side effect profiles have not been included in a meta-analysis as multiple adverse events were…
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported

Preoperative paracetamol (acetaminophen) vs placebo

• Preoperative analgesics for additional pain relief in children and adolescents having dental treatment 2016 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No adverse events were recorded in Primosch 1995. The other two studies did not mention adverse events.
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Analgesic (any: NSAID, paracetamol, local anaesthetic or opioid) vs placebo or control

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Pharmacological interventions for pain relief during orthodontic treatment 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No studies in this comparison reported any adverse events. SoF cell: 'Not reported'.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Oral paracetamol vs placebo

Paracetamol (single oral dose, any dose or formulation; subgroups up… showed no clear difference in patients with one or more adverse events compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

• Paracetamol for pain relief after surgical removal of lower wisdom teeth 2007 · Cochrane All outcomes

  up to 7 days
  RR 1.19 [0.90, 1.57]
  17 studies · 1645 participants
  GRADE not reported

Ibuprofen (single postoperative oral dose; 200 mg to 512 mg) vs paracetamol

• Ibuprofen and/or paracetamol (acetaminophen) for pain relief after surgical removal of lower wisdom teeth 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Study period (immediate postoperative)
  The majority of adverse events were minor in nature and usually included nausea, vomiting, headaches and dizziness. Side effect profiles have not been included in a meta-analysis as multiple adverse events were…
  7 studies
  GRADE not reported

NSAID (systemic) vs paracetamol

• Pharmacological interventions for pain relief during orthodontic treatment 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
  In one study, one participant (<1%) in the paracetamol group experienced drug hypersensitivity (a 'red, blotchy and itchy rash') that resolved without treatment within 1 week (Bradley 2007 / McAlinden 2005); 1 RCT;…
  1 study
  Very low