The Effects of Etodolac, Nimesulid and Naproxen Sodium on the Frequency of Sister Chromatid Exchange after Enclused Third Molars Surgery

PURPOSE Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) are frequently used in oral surgical procedures in dentistry. The evaluation of the frequency of sister chromatid exchange (SCE) is accepted as a reliable cytogenetic method to assess the genotoxic effects of environmental factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this study, the genotoxic effects of various NSAIDs were assessed in 30 patients to who they were administered following encluosed third molar surgery using SCE analysis before and after the operation. The frequency of SCE was evaluated before the operation and after 3 days of etodolac, nimesulid and naproxen use. RESULTS There was no statistically significant difference in the frequency of SCE between the preoperative and postoperative states in patients given etodolac, nimesulid or naproxen sodium. CONCLUSION Short term use of selective and non-selective NSAIDs was not associated with a significant genotoxic effect that could be detected using the SCE method in peripheric lymphocytes.