Preemptive effect of ketoprofen on postoperative pain following third molar surgery. A prospective, randomized, double-blinded clinical trial

The authors examined whether ketoprofen administered 60 min before surgical extraction of the lower wisdom teeth provides effective postsurgical analgesia and reduces rescue analgesic intake compared with ketoprofen administered 60 min after surgery or placebo. The 96 patients were placed into three groups: pre-group (ketoprofen 60 min preoperatively); post-group (ketoprofen 60 min postoperatively); and no-group (placebo). Study interventions had a significant effect on pain sensations in the 12 h after surgery. The initial onset of pain was significantly delayed only in the post-group. Pain intensity at the first onset of pain was significantly lower only in the post-group. Patients in the pre- and postgroups required significantly less rescue analgesic than those in the no-group. Ketoprofen administered after third molar surgery provides more effective pain control than ketoprofen administered before the surgery or placebo.