THE EFFECT OF IBUPROFEN ON THE LEVEL OF DISCOMFORT IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT

Studies have shown that patients undergoing orthodontic tooth movement can experience varying degrees of discomfort. The objective of this s tudy was to determine whether nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents, su ch as aspirin or ibuprofen, which inhibit prostaglandin synthesis thro ugh acetylation and inactivation of the enzyme cyclooxygenase, can sup press orthodontic discomfort by inhibiting the inflammatory response n ormally observed after orthodontic adjustments. A total of 77 patients were included in a double-blind, randomized, parallel, placebo-contro lled, single-dose, analgesic efficacy evaluation of ibuprofen and aspi rin. Patients were divided into three groups. Group A received one dos e of the drug ibuprofen (400 mg), group B received aspirin (650 mg), a nd group C received a placebo (beta-lactose). The level of discomfort was assessed using a visual analogue scale at 2, 6, and 24 hours and 2 , 3, and 7 days after the insertion of either orthodontic separators o r an initial arch wire. A repeated measures analysis of variance and p ost hoc studentized range statistics showed that the placebo group had significantly more discomfort than either the ibuprofen or the aspiri n group at all the time intervals tested. In addition, ibuprofen produ ced significantly less discomfort than aspirin at the 6 and 24-hour an d 2-day time phase after separator placement; and 2 and 6 hours and 2, 3, and 7 days after arch wire placement. These results support a reco mmendation for ibuprofen as a preferred analgesic in the treatment of discomfort because of postorthodontic adjustments.