1 Aspirin 1200 mg was compared with placebo in a randomised, double-blind, crossover study in 15 patients with postoperative pain after removal of impacted lower third molars. 2 Over a 5 h investigation period, patients reported significantly less pain (P < 0.01) after treatment with aspirin, than after treatment with placebo. 3 Peak concentrations of aspirin occurred at 15 min after dosage. 4 Significant negative correlations were observed between plasma aspirin esterase activity and both AUC aspirin (r = -0.904, P < 0.001) and AUC analgesia (r = -0.91, P < 0.001). Similarly, a significant correlation was observed between AUC aspirin and AUC analgesia (r = 0.96, P < 0.001). 5 Evidence from this study would suggest that an individual's pain relief in postoperative dental pain is determined by the rate of aspirin hydrolysis to salicylate.