Compared to presurgery administration, ibuprofen administration immediately after third molar surgery is more effective.  

A randomized, triple-blind, single-center, split-mouth clinical study was performed to determine the pain-relieving effect of 400 mg ibuprofen administered 30 minutes prior to or immediately after third molars surgery under local anesthesia.

In this study, 38 patients for a total of 76 bilateral symmetrical fully bone impacted mandibular third molars were included. Each participant underwent separate surgical sessions for the right and left sides. Ibuprofen was given randomly 30 minutes prior to or immediately post-intervention. Estimation of pain intensity utilizing Numerical Rating Scale-11, the timing of rescue treatment consumption, and overall tablets intake over 3 days was done.

Overall pain intensity score reduced in the cohort treated with ibuprofen immediately after (3.13 ± 2.46) compared to before (3.58 ± 2.40) surgery, with substantial differences only on the third and second day. The mean time to the first utilizing rescue treatment was found to be longer in  postsurgery (598.33 ± 422.62 minutes) compared to the presurgery (406.25 ± 149.79 minutes) analgesic therapy group. Both the cohorts illustrated a similar number of supplemented ibuprofen tablets. 

In patients undergoing third molar surgery, ibuprofen should be administered immediately after the oral surgery.