title: Efficacy of preoperative ibuprofen on the success of inferior alveolar nerve block in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis: a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of preoperative oral ibuprofen (IBU) on the success of inferior alveolar nerve blocks (IANBs) with mepivacaine containing 1 : 100 000 epinephrine for patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis (SIP).
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. The study included two study groups each consisting of 25 patients who exhibited symptomatic irreversible pulpitis of a mandibular posterior tooth. The patients presented prolonged moderate or severe pain (>10 s) after cold testing and indicated their pain scores on a Heft-Parker visual analogue scale. The patients received identically appearing capsules containing either 600 mg IBU (IBUg) or gelatin (placebo, PLAg) 1 h before administration of IANB with 2% mepivacaine containing 1 : 100 000 epinephrine. After 15 min, the anaesthetic blockade was assessed by a three-step examination (lip numbness, positive/negative response to cold testing and clinical discomfort during endodontic access). IANB success was defined as the absence of pain during any of these evaluations. The data were analysed using the chi-squared test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All of the patients reported moderate or severe pain before the preoperative procedure. Statistically significant differences were observed between the IBUg and PLAg (P < 0.05); the success rates for the IANB were 72% (IBUg) and 36% (PLAg).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative oral administration of IBU significantly improved the efficacy of IANB in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis.
authors.affiliation: Endodontic Postgraduate Program and Basic Sciences Laboratory, Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Noguera-Gonzalez
authors.forename: B I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Cerda-Cristerna
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chavarria-Bolaños
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Flores-Reyes
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pozos-Guillen
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000187:drug effects*; D009407:Nerve Block; D010919:Placebos; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011671:Pulpitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D010919:Placebos; D007052:Ibuprofen
keywords: ibuprofen; inferior alveolar nerve block; symptomatic irreversible pulpitis