A randomized, double-blind clinical trial was carried out involving 25 patients scheduled for the removal of symmetrically positioned lower third molars in separate procedures. Either 100 mg of
nimesulide or 7.5 mg of
meloxicam was administered 1 hour before surgery and every 12 hours after surgery for 2 days. Evaluations were carried out in the
preoperative period as well as on the second and seventh days after surgery. Objective and subjective parameters were recorded for comparison purposes. The patients having received
nimesulide had less of a need for additional
pain medication in the first 48 hours and had lower
pain scale values (P < 0.05). There was less
trismus in the
meloxicam group (P > 0.05). Postoperative swelling was lower in the
nimesulide group (P < 0.05). All measurements on the second day were lower in the
nimesulide group (P < 0.001), and only one of these parameters was lower on the seventh day in the
nimesulide group, distance from the lower edge of the tragus to the lip commissure on the operated side (P = 0.009, P < 0.001) compared with another group.
Nimesulide proved effective in controlling
pain and swelling after surgical removal of the lower third molars, with few adverse effects.
Meloxicam proved effective in diminishing
trismus.