The efficacy of pain control following nonsurgical root canal treatment using ibuprofen or a combination of ibuprofen and acetaminophen in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Abstract

Aim: To compare ibuprofen, to an ibuprofen/acetaminophen combination in managing postoperative pain following root canal treatment. It is hypothesized that the drug combination will provide more postoperative pain relief than the placebo or ibuprofen alone.

Methodology: Patients presenting at the Texas A&M Baylor College of Dentistry's graduate endodontic clinic, experiencing moderate to severe pain, were considered potential candidates. Fifty-seven patients were included based on established criteria. Following administration of local anaesthesia, a pulpectomy was performed. The patients were administered a single dose of either: (i) placebo; (ii) 600 mg ibuprofen; or (iii) 600 mg ibuprofen and 1000 mg of acetaminophen. Patients recorded pain intensity following treatment on a visual analogue scale and a baseline four-point category pain scale as well as pain relief every hour for the first 4 h then every 2 h thereafter for a total of 8 h. A general linear model (GLM) analysis was used to analyse the outcome.

Results: Based upon the GLM analysis, there was a significant difference between the ibuprofen and the combination drug group, and between placebo and combination drug groups. There was no significant difference between the placebo and the ibuprofen.

Conclusion: The results demonstrate that the combination of ibuprofen with acetaminophen may be more effective than ibuprofen alone for the management of postoperative endodontic pain.