Preemptive Analgesia by Paracetamol, Ibuprofen or Placebo in Pediatric Dental Care: A Randomized Controlled Study

Objective: To compare postoperative pain among children who received an oral dose of paracetamol, ibuprofen or a placebo, prior to tooth extractions. Study design: Thirty minutes prior to dental treatment, children received a liquid dosage, fruit flavored and orange colored, of paracetamol, ibuprofen, or a placebo. Data accessed included children's dental history, their behavior, and their feeling of pain or anxiety according to Wong-Baker FACES: before treatment, following local anesthesia, and following treatment. Parents were interviewed by telephone regarding their children's need for a postoperative analgesia (paracetamol or ibuprofen), and their feeling of pain at four and 24 hours posttreatment. Results: Parents reported administering paracetamol or nurofen following the dental procedure to 9/43 (21%), 2/33 (6%) and 12/29 (41%) of the children in the preemptive paracetamol, ibuprofen, and placebo groups, respectively. For the 3 groups, mean pain assessment were similar: around the middle of the Wong-Baker FACES scale at baseline, slightly higher following local anesthesia, and low (pain-free) at four and 24 hours postoperative. Conclusion: Children who received paracetamol or ibuprofen prior to tooth extractions were less likely to need an analgesic following treatment, compared to children who received a placebo.

Preemptive analgesia; Postoperative pain; Ibuprofen; Paracetamol

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