Methods: Fifty-eight patients took part in this randomized parallel double-blind clinical trial. Patients who had at least one area with mucogingival surgery indication were included in the study and were divided into three groups (G): G1 – placebo 1h before surgery; G2 – 8mg dexamethasone 1h before surgery; G3 – 90mg etoricoxib 1h before surgery. Pain intensity was assessed in donor and receptor area separately using the 101-point numerical rating scale NRS – 101, every hour for the first 8 hours after surgery and three times a day in the following 3 days. Rescue medication (paracetamol 750mg) was supplied for the patients to be used in case of persistent pain. Statistical Analysis were performed using non parametric Kruskall-Wallis test for the NRS-101 scores and one-way ANOVA with LSD post hoc test for rescue medication intake comparison.
Results: There was a statistically significant difference in the postoperative pain intensity in the donor region between G1 and G3 after 1 hour (h), 2h, 3h, 7h, 8h and in the second day – in the evening; between G1 and G2 after 2h and 3h, and between G2 e G3 only after the first hour. Pain intensity in the receptor area was statistically significant between G1 and G3 after 1 and 2 hours (p<0.05). In addition, there was a lower ingestion of rescue medication in G2(1,05±1,39) and in G3(1,52±1,74) than in G1(2,85±2,00) (p<0,05).
Conclusions: The adoption of a pre-emptive medication protocol using etoricoxib or dexamethasone can be considered effective for pain prevention after mucogingival surgery.