Relative efficacy of oral analgesics after third molar extraction--a 2011 update.

This article provides a summary of the efficacy, and relative efficacy, of 38 different drugs or drug combinations tested in standard postoperative pain trials. It will help clinicians and patients make informed choices about analgesia based on pain relief, duration of action, and adverse events, which can then be put into context for the individual patient, depending on local availability. This article highlights the fact that no single drug is effective in all patients--even the best drugs fail to provide good levels of pain relief in at least 30%. These patients should try a different analgesic.