The Use of Etoricoxib and Celecoxib for Pain Prevention After Periodontal Surgery: A Double‐Masked, Parallel‐Group, Placebo‐Controlled, Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Postoperative pain is an adverse effect of periodontal surgeries and may therefore be prevented or minimized. This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical efficacy of two selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, celecoxib and etoricoxib, on pain prevention after periodontal surgery. For this double-masked, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, and randomized clinical trial, 56 open-flap debridement surgeries were performed. The groups received three different protocols 1 hour before surgery: 1) 200 mg celecoxib (and another 200 mg 12 hours after the first dose); 2) 120 mg etoricoxib; or 3) placebo. Pain intensity and discomfort were assessed up to 2 days after surgery using the visual analog scale and the four-point verbal rating scale, respectively. Patients were instructed to take 750 mg acetaminophen as a rescue medication if necessary. Pain intensity levels in the etoricoxib group were lower than in the placebo group at the 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, and 7-hour periods after surgery (Kruskal-Wallis test; P <0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between celecoxib and etoricoxib. Discomfort in the celecoxib group was significantly lower than in the placebo group only at the 3-hour period (P = 0.03). Rescue medication intake was significantly less frequent in the etoricoxib group than in the placebo and celecoxib groups (analysis of variance; P = 0.009). It was concluded that a single etoricoxib dose is not superior to two split doses of celecoxib when used for pain prevention after open-flap debridement surgery.