The outcomes of this randomized placebo-controlled split-mouth clinical trial supported the use of nimesulide over ibuprofen to be used as preemptive analgesia after periodontal flap surgery.

A study aimed to compare the analgesic effects of two nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)-ibuprofen and nimesulide in open flap periodontal surgeries.

This trial comprised 40 patients who underwent bilateral periodontal surgeries and were given the test drug (ibuprofen and nimesulide) or placebo. Two groups (20 patients) were made as per test drug to be administered an hour prior to the surgery.

Post-surgery pain and the need for rescue medication were evaluated at separate times. A Generalized Estimation Equation model was used to distinguish between these two NSAIDs by using test drug and evaluation times, plus a collaboration between these two variables as predictors.

Ibuprofen had better effects compared to placebo only at the first hour after the surgery, but nimesulide had better pain-relieving effects at 1st, 6th, 1 day, and 3 days post-surgery hours. Overall, nimesulide portrayed a higher preemptive effect compared with ibuprofen at 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 postoperative hours. No differences were witnessed concerning the number of rescue medicines.

Nimesulide but not ibuprofen had better overall preemptive effects on postsurgery pain management.