Do analgesics used for the pain experienced after orthodontic procedures affect tooth movement rate? A systematic review based on animal studies.

Abstract

Using analgesics for a short period to relieve the pain following specific orthodontic procedures is common. Such medications may influence orthodontic tooth movement biochemical pathways; however, the information originating from human studies is limited. To systematically investigate current evidence from animal experiments on the effect of administering analgesics for a few days, which is consistent with usual clinical practice, on the speed of orthodontic tooth movement. Eight databases were searched without restrictions, and hand searching was conducted until June 2019. Animal controlled studies assessing the short-term impact of analgesics that can be consumed for orthodontic pain on the speed of orthodontic tooth movement. Subsequent to retrieving relevant studies and information extraction, the SYRCLE's Risk of Bias Tool was used for risk of bias assessment. Finally, seven studies were selected, and most of them were assessed at unclear risk of bias. Short-term administration of acetaminophen did not affect significantly the speed of tooth movement, while ibuprofen and indomethacin were reported to decrease it. After administering acetylsalicylic acid and celecoxib, the noted effects were inconsistent. The quality of the available evidence for the animal setting was considered as moderate at most. Consuming specific analgesics for a few days may influence the speed of orthodontic tooth movement in animals. Clinicians should be aware of the relevant implications and be capable to identify those substances that may not interfere with treatment processes.