A COMPARATIVE STUDY EVALUATING THE EFFECT OF PREOPERATIVE IBUPROFEN ON THE EFFICACY OF INFERIOR ALVEOLAR NERVE BLOCK IN PATIENTS WITH IRREVERSIBLE PULPITIS

Introduction: The purpose of this prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study was to determine the effect of preoperative ibuprofen on the success of inferior alveolar nerve block in patients with irreversible pulpitis. It was hypothesized that premedication with ibuprofen might improve the success rate of the anaesthesia in patients with irreversible pulpitis. Methods: Forty five endodontic emergency patients were diagnosed with irreversible pulpitis of a mandibular posterior tooth by cold vitality testing. They randomly received identical capsules of either 400mg ibuprofen or placebo 45 minutes before the administration of a conventional IAN block. Access was begun after 15 minutes and profound lip numbness. Success of IANB was defined as the ability to access and instrument the tooth without pain or mild pain (Heft-parker Visual Analogue Scale). Results and Conclusions: The success rate was 77.27% for ibuprofen group and 47.82% for placebo group with no significant statistical difference between them. (p=.065)