Key Takeaways

Opioid painkillers aren’t needed to manage the pain of a wisdom tooth extraction

A combo of ibuprofen and acetaminophen matched or outperformed opioids among dental patients

The combo also allowed people to sleep better and have fewer problems completing daily tasks

FRIDAY, Nov. 7, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Getting your wisdom teeth pulled?

You don’t need opioids to deal with the pain of the extraction, a new study says.

A combination of ibuprofen and acetaminophen provided better pain relief than hydrocodone with acetaminophen for the first two days after wisdom tooth surgery, researchers reported Nov. 6 in JAMA Network Open .

Both men and women also had greater satisfaction post-op when using over-the-counter pain medications compared to opioids, researchers

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