In a triple-blind, parallel, randomized controlled clinical trial, it was observed that Acetaminophen (ACETA), Ibuprofen (IBU), Etoricoxib (ETOR), or Nimesulide (NIME) reduced the need for rescue medication and postoperative pain in patients undergoing single dental implant surgeries. Researchers sought to assess the effectiveness of different preemptive analgesic agents in dental surgeries.

Their goal was to determine which of the medications provided the most significant relief from postoperative pain and reduced the need for rescue medication when compared to a placebo. In total, 135 participants, with a mean age of 57.6 years (±11.7), including both males and females, were randomly assigned to one of five groups based on the medication being tested: Group I received a placebo, Group II received 600 mg of IBU, Group III received 100 mg of NIME, Group IV received 750 mg of ACETA, and Group V received 90 mg of ETOR.

The study analyzed the intensity, duration, and prevalence of pain utilizing statistical methods such as the Chi-square, Fisher's exact tests, and ANOVA, and in appropriate cases, the generalized estimating equation models. The medications under investigation efficiently lowered postoperative pain scores and resulted in a decreased need for rescue medication in comparison with the placebo.

Notably, the ETOR group demonstrated substantially lower pain scores than the other active interventions, while the IBU group had the highest mean number of rescue medications. All the test drugs displayed a preemptive impact by lowering postoperative pain and reducing the need for rescue medication after single-implant surgery. Notably, the ETOR group exhibited lower pain scores, while the IBU group had the highest mean usage of rescue medication among the test groups.