Efficacy and safety of selective COX-2 inhibitors for pain management after third molar removal: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

OBJECTIVES:

To compare selective COX-2 inhibitors with ibuprofen in terms of analgesia, rescue medication consumption, and adverse effects after impacted third molar removal.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Electronic databases were searched. Single dose, double-blind, randomized, and controlled clinical trials comparing the analgesic effect of a selective COX-2 inhibitor versus at least one active control group using ibuprofen after impacted third molar removal were selected.

RESULTS:

Twelve studies were included for the qualitative synthesis and eight were included in the meta-analysis. No statistically significant differences were found between selective COX-2 inhibitors and ibuprofen in terms of pain relief after 6, 8, and 12 h. Rescue analgesia use after 24 h was significantly greater in the ibuprofen group than in the selective COX-2 inhibitor group. There were no statistically significant differences in the number of patients presenting one or more adverse events between the two groups, though ibuprofen intake was related with more nausea and vomiting.

CONCLUSIONS:

No statistically significant differences were found in terms of pain relief 6, 8, and 12 h post-medication between selective COX-2 inhibitors and ibuprofen following totally or partially impacted third molar removal. The patients who consumed selective COX-2 inhibitors needed less rescue analgesia after 24 h. The occurrence of one or more adverse events was similar in both groups, though patients who consumed ibuprofen had more nausea and vomiting.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE:

COX-2 inhibitors could be considered a suitable alternative to ibuprofen for pain relief after third molar extraction in patients at risk of developing nausea and vomiting. Also, COX-2 inhibitors seem to slightly reduce the need of rescue medication consumption.