Effects of Pre Operative Administration of Diclofenac Potassium on Pain Intensity following Impacted Mandibular Third Molar Surgery

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of pre operatively administered Diclofenac potassium, on the postoperative management of pain following removal of impacted lower third molars. Material and Methods: The study was carried out in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar, from Jan 2009 to June 2009. Fifty patients were recruited in this study who were equally distributed into group I and group II. Post operative pain was assessed using a four-point Category Rating Scale. Results: In this study more males were recruited than females and the ratio of male to female was 2:1. Majority of the patients (56%) recruited were in 3rd decade of life followed by 4th decade (32%). In group I, 80% were those who had no post operative pain after 48 hours while in group II 86% of the patients showed moderate to severe pain postoperatively. Conclusion: This study illustrated the enhanced effects of preoperative administration of Diclofenac potassium on short-term postoperative pain, compared to those patients who do not receive diclofenac potassium prior to third molar surgery.