This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows:

To assess the beneficial and harmful effects of paracetamol for pain relief after surgical removal of lower wisdom teeth, compared to placebo, at different doses and administered preoperatively or postoperatively.

PRIMARY

• To test the null hypothesis of no difference in the beneficial and harmful effects between paracetamol and placebo for pain relief in patients requiring surgical removal of a lower wisdom tooth or teeth, against the alternative hypothesis of a difference.

SECONDARY

• To test the null hypothesis of no difference in the beneficial and harmful effects between different doses of paracetamol for pain relief in patients requiring surgical removal of a lower wisdom tooth or teeth, against the alternative hypothesis of a difference.

• To test the null hypothesis of no difference in the beneficial and harmful effects between different times of administration of paracetamol for pain relief in patients requiring surgical removal of a lower wisdom tooth or teeth, against the alternative hypothesis of a difference.