A recent study reveals that the efficacy of transdermal and oral diclofenac for postoperative pain management was similar, but the safety of the transdermal diclofenac patches was evidently superior. Dental implant process is a surgical method used to replace single teeth, multiple teeth, or provide abutments for complete dentures or partials.

The study included, all in all, 20 systemically healthy, partially edentulous patients who needed dental implants bilaterally in the mandibular first molar region. An implant was placed in the mandibular first molar region of one quadrant when the patient was under local anaesthesia. An implant was positioned in the contralateral quadrant under local anaesthesia after 4 weeks minimum. Following implant placement on the first side, the patients have prescribed 50 mg of oral diclofenac, taken twice daily for 3 days. After surgery on the contralateral side, a 100-mg diclofenac transdermal patch placed once daily for 3 days. The Pain Relief Scale, Numeric Rating Scale, and the Verbal Rating Scale were used to measure the postoperative pain. In all the patients, demographic, intraoperative, and postoperative characteristics were comparable. Mann-Whitney test was used to examine the data obtained with the 3 subjective scales.

Among the transdermal and oral routes of diclofenac delivery, no statistically significant differences in scores were identified. No patients reported any adverse effects when using the transdermal patch. Three patients taking oral diclofenac reported gastric irritation and a mild burning sensation. 
Transdermal and oral diclofenac for postoperative pain management revealed similar efficacy. But, the safety of the transdermal diclofenac patches was superior. Future research with a larger patient sample is essential, although delivery of diclofenac through a transdermal route may be a potential approach to the management of postoperative pain.