Comparison of Analgesic Effects of Novafen and Ibuprofen after Periodontal Surgeries

Introduction: Management of pain after dental procedures is one of the most important issues for dentists. Non-steroidal antiinflammatory agents, such as ibuprofen, are one of the most commonly used medications to relieve pain. Recently a new medication, Novafen, has been introduced into the Iranian pharmaceutical market, which is a combination of ibuprofen, acetaminophen and caffeine. Considering the importance of management of pain after periodontal surgeries and a paucity of studies in this respect, the present study was undertaken to compare the analgesic efficacy of Novafen and ibuprofen in alleviating pain after periodontal surgeries. Materials and methods: In the present controlled randomized clinical trial, 30 systemically healthy subjects with moderate to severe generalized chronic periodontitis, who were candidates for flap surgeries were evaluated in two groups with 30 areas in each group (two areas in each patient). After the periodontal surgical procedures, the subjects in group 1 received Novafen capsules (containing 325 mg of acetaminophen, 200 mg of ibuprofen and 40 mg of caffeine) and the subjects in group 2 received ibuprofen (400 mg). The medications were selected from one pharmaceutical company and the patients only used the medications they received. The severity of pain was determined and compared at 3-minute, 1-hour and 3-hour intervals using VAS and 1, 2 and 3 days postoperatively using VRS. Results: Severity of pain at 30-minute interval in the Novafen group was significantly less than that in the ibuprofen group, with no significant differences at 1- and 3-hour intervals. However, VRS revealed significantly less pain 1, 2 and 3 days postoperatively in the Novafen group compared to the ibuprofen group. Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, it can be concluded than Novafen can be more effective after periodontal surgeries in alleviating pain. However, its pain control capacity was similar to that of ibuprofen during the early postoperative hours, with better performance 1‒3  days postoperatively.