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Original Article Plastic and Aesthetic Research

A survey of analgesic and anti‑inflammatory

drug prescription for oral implant surgery

Rahul Datta , Yasmin Grewal , Jaspreet Singh Batth , Amandeep Singh 4
3
1
2
1 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Rayat Bahra Dental College and Hospital, Mohali 140104, Punjab, India.
2 Department of Public Health Dentistry, Rayat Bahra Dental College and Hospital, Mohali 140104, Punjab, India.
3 Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, BRS Dental College and Hospital, Panchkula 134109, Punjab, India.
4 Department of Pharmacology, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, Patel Nagar, Dehradun 248001, Uttarakhand, India.
Address for correspondence: Dr. Rahul Datta, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Rayat Bahra Dental College and Hospital,
Mohali 140104, Punjab, India. E-mail: docdatta@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
Aim: This study was conducted to determine the preferred analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs
prescribed by oral implantologists in India. Methods: A structured questionnaire was distributed
to 332 dentists to gather information regarding their prescription habits for analgesics and
anti-inflammatory drugs. Frequency distributions were computed by type of drug being prescribed
and the protocol followed. Results: Analysis of data showed that majority of dentists (85.8%, n = 285)
prescribed conventional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for implant surgery. The
most common prescription was ibuprofen with paracetamol combination (32.2%, n = 107) followed by
diclofenac (20.2%, n = 67). Most dentists reported prescribing different NSAIDs for the same procedure
in different patients (64.7%, n = 215). Only, 35.5% (n = 118) followed the peri-operative protocol.
Adjunctive prescription of steroids was done by only 33.7% (n = 112). Conclusion: Our study illustrates
that the general trend of analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug prescription for dental implant surgery
among Indian dentists is mostly in accordance with the guidelines for pain management worldwide.
However, it is noteworthy that a few dentists do prescribe drugs not primarily indicated for dental
pain management and use widely varying protocols for the same. Therefore, in order to avoid potential
complications, it is essential to raise awareness of among the dental practitioners of the appropriate
indications and dosage regimen of specific drugs.

Key words:
Dental implants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs prescription, steroid, protocol

INTRODUCTION pain. The role of steroids as adjunctive measures to
reduce postoperative inflammation, swelling, and pain has
Pain management has always been an important part of also received importance in recent years. [1‑4]
dental care. With an estimated 30 million people benefited Despite adherence to all surgical recommendations and
worldwide, non‑steroidal anti‑inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) precautions during dental implant surgery in a normal
are the most commonly used drugs for managing surgical healthy patient, many patients experience mild to
pain and inflammation. Consistently, NSAIDs are routinely moderate pain and inflammation after the procedure. [5,6]
prescribed for mild to moderate dental pain and will be Though the role of NSAIDs and steroids in minimizing
supplemented/replaced by opioid analgesics in severe
postoperative discomfort in dentoalveolar surgery has
been reviewed extensively, specific recommendations
Access this article online regarding drugs, doses, and protocols with respect to
Quick Response Code: dental implant surgery are not defined. [7,8]
Website:
www.parjournal.net
A comprehensive search of commonly used electronic
databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar, using the
DOI: key words “analgesics”, “anti‑inflammatory” and “oral
10.4103/2347-9264.153194 implants” was done. Published literature in this context
related either to the use of analgesic or anti‑inflammatory

Plast Aesthet Res || Vol 2 || Issue 2 || Mar 13, 2015 51