R. Flath, M. L. Hicks, R. Dionne
Jul 1, 1987
Citations
3
Influential Citations
79
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
Journal of endodontics
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinically the effectiveness of preoperatively administered flurbiprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, in suppressing postendodontic treatment pain. Sixty symptomatic and 60 asymptomatic patients were equally distributed into four groups: dose 30-min preoperatively—group A (control), placebo; group B, placebo; group C, flurbiprofen (100 mg); and group D, flurbiprofen (100 mg) and postoperative medication—group A, placebo; group B, flurbiprofen (100 mg), group C, placebo; and group D, flurbiprofen (100 mg). Each patient received preoperative medication or placebo, local anesthetic, initial root canal debridement, and finally a postendodontic medication or placebo in a double-blind manner. Pain was quantified by self-report of the patient with three different scales: (1) category rating, (2) visual analogue, and (3) pain relief. Observations were recorded immediately before and after instrumentation, and at 3 (time of postendodontic dose), 7, and 24 h after the first dose of medication. The data were statistically analyzed. For patients who were symptomatic before treatment,the preoperative administration of flurbiprofen plus endodontic treatment significantly reduced postoperative pain. At 7 and 24 h, symptomatic patients who received medication reported less pain as compared with patients who received a placebo in five of the six comparisons. There was a low incidence of postendodontic pain regardless of drug therapy when the patient was asymptomatic at the start of therapy. The difference in the occurrence rate of side effects between the four groups was not significant. The informed consent of all human subjects who participated in the experimentalinvestigation(s) reported or described in this article was obtained after the nature of the procedures and possible discomforts and risks had been fully explained. Flurbiprofen is approved for experimental use under FDA regulation is aPhase III drug. The IND is held by The Upjohn Co., Kalamazoo, MI. The Upjohn Company provided no financial support for this study. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and are not to be construed as those of the Department of the Navy or the Department of Defense.