title: Comparative analysis of preemptive analgesic effect of dexamethasone and diclofenac following third molar surgery.
abstract: The objective of the study was to compare the analgesic effectiveness of dexamethasone and diclofenac sodium administered preemptively after surgical removal of third molars. Forty-four ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) I patients (19 men, 35 women; 16-28 years old) randomly and double-blindly received diclofenac sodium (50 mg) or dexamethasone (8 mg) or placebo 1 h before surgery. Intensity of pain, measured with a visual analog scale (VAS), was the variable studied at different postoperative times (1 h, 2 h, 3 h, 6 h, 8 h, 12 h, 48 h, 4 d and 7 d). The total amount of rescue medication (TARM) ingested (paracetamol) was another variable of the study. The Kruskal-Wallis statistical test was used. A p value of < .05 was adopted to reject the null hypothesis. The dexamethasone group showed lower pain intensity (p < .05) than the diclofenac sodium and placebo groups (p < .05). No difference in TARM was observed among the groups (p < .05). Preemptively administered, dexamethasone was effective in controlling postoperative pain.
authors: Department of Stomatology, Discipline of Integrated Clinical Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Univ de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. jlsimone@usp.br
authors: José Leonardo
authors: JL
authors: Simone
authors: Waldyr Antonio
authors: WA
authors: Jorge
authors: Anna Carolina Ratto Tempestini
authors: AC
authors: Horliana
authors: Talita Girio
authors: TG
authors: Canaval
authors: Isabel Peixoto
authors: IP
authors: Tortamano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004008:Diclofenac; D003907:Dexamethasone