Analgesic Efficacy of Etoricoxib on Acute Dental Pain due to Dental Extraction and Periodontal Surgery: Rapid Review

Abstract

Acute postoperative pain due to dental extraction and periodontal surgery is commonly associated with inflammation as a result of surgical tissue damage. Etoricoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, has a long-duration analgesic activity and is expected to provide pain relief with reduced dosage requirements and enhanced convenience. The objective of this study is to comprehensively review the available evidence on the efficacy of etoricoxib in managing acute dental pain following dental extraction and periodontal surgery. A systematic search was conducted across electronic databases to identify double-blind, randomized, and controlled clinical trials comparing the analgesic effect of etoricoxib versus placebo or at least one active control group after dental extraction and periodontal surgery. Nine studies met the inclusion criteria. The data revealed that etoricoxib 120 mg was determined to be the minimum effective dose that had maximal efficacy in patients with moderate to severe acute pain following dental surgery. Etoricoxib at doses of 90 mg and 120 mg demonstrated comparable efficacy to 600 mg ibuprofen, 4 mg dexamethasone, and 600/670 mg naproxen sodium. Moreover, 120 mg etoricoxib exhibited superior efficacy compared to 50 mg diclofenac, 600 mg acetaminophen/60 mg codeine, and 10/650 mg oxycodone/acetaminophen. Etoricoxib is both effective and safe for managing early-stage acute pain after dental extraction and periodontal surgeries. No evidence of significant adverse effects associated with etoricoxib use was observed, thus making it a viable alternative treatment option.