P. Ngan et al., THE EFFECT OF IBUPROFEN ON THE LEVEL OF DISCOMFORT IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT, American journal of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics, 106(1), 1994, pp. 88-95
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.