Etodolac versus dexamethasone effect in reduction of postoperative symptoms following surgical endodontic treatment: a double blind study.
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this prospective study was to analyze the effect of etodolac versus dexamethasone in reducing postoperative pain in patients who had surgical endodontic treatment using a strict protocol. STUDY DESIGN The study consisted of 90 patients (38 males and 52 females) referred for surgical endodontic treatment. All procedures were performed using a microsurgical technique with a strict protocol. Patients were randomly premedicated with placebo or with one of both protocols: either a single dose of oral dexamethasone, 8 mg, preoperatively and 2 single doses, 4 mg, 1 and 2 days postoperatively, or a single dose of etodolac, 600 mg, and 2 single doses, 600 mg, 1 and 2 days postoperatively. Pain was recorded at 8, 24, and 48 hours, as well as 7 days postoperatively, on a 1 10 scale. The influence of different variables on postoperative sequelae was analyzed. RESULTS On a 1 10 scale, the mean values of pain report recorded were 3.8 2.9 (8 hours postoperatively) 2.93 2.4 (24 hours) 2.31 2.2 (48 hours) and 1.4 0.9 (7 days postoperatively) One day postoperatively, 41.8% of the patients reported no or very mild pain (score 1 or 2) whereas after 7 days, 87.9% reported no or very mild pain (score 1 or 2) Both etodolac and dexamethasone had a significant effect of reducing postoperative pain in patients who had surgical endodontic procedure compared with placebo (P or .001) CONCLUSION Postoperative pain following endodontic surgical treatment is not uncommon. Etodolac as well as dexamethasone might serve as a pain relief measure for postoperative pain in these patients.
Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology, oral radiology, and endodontics