Abstract

Background: This randomized clinical trial was designed to evaluate the postoperative analgesic efficacy of ibuprofen compared to meloxicam in patients undergoing third molar extraction. Material and Methods: Sixty-eight patients who had been indicated for the extraction of both a maxillary (semi-erupted or fully erupted crown) and mandibular third molar (Class I, Position A, and Class I, Position B, according to Pell and Gregory's classification) were randomly assigned to receive either meloxicam (7.5 mg every 12 hours, n=34) or ibuprofen (400 mg every 8 hours, n=34) following a single surgical procedure. Postoperative pain intensity was assessed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). All outcome measures were recorded during the first seven consecutive postoperative hours, and subsequently at 24, 48 and 72 hours. Addition, the presence or absence of adverse effects was recorded. Results: In this clinical trial, a total of 68 patients (mean age 24.7 years) completed the study in this clinical trial, and no patients were lost to follow-up. The results showed lower pain intensity in the ibuprofen-treated group at all evaluated time points, except at 72 hours; however, statistically significant differences were observed only at the 2-hour mark (p<0.05). Both groups exhibited a sustained decrease in pain from 24 hours postoperatively onward (VAS<2). Only two cases of mild dizziness were reported in the ibuprofen group. Conclusions: These findings suggest that both therapeutic regimens are effective and well-tolerated options for postoperative pain management in third molar extraction.