Date of Award
Spring 2012
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Dentistry
First Advisor
Olsen, F. Kris
Second Advisor
Gaffney, Joseph L.
Third Advisor
Stover, Sheila
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of taking ibuprofen and acetaminophen at the same time versus alternating the same medications in patients with a diagnosis of symptomatic irreversible pulpitis.
Materials and Methods: Ten patients who presented for root canal therapy with a diagnosis of symptomatic irreversible pulpitis were included in this study. The patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups. Following root canal therapy, the patients in group A were instructed to take ibuprofen 600 mg and acetaminophen 1000 mg every six hours. Patients in group B were instructed to take ibuprofen 600 mg, wait three hours, take acetaminophen 1000 mg, wait three hours, and repeat the cycle. Patients evaluated their pain levels using a numeric rating scale (NRS) at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours post-operatively.
Results: The average preoperative pain level was 4.0 ± 2.0 for group A and 4.4 ± 3.05 for group B. The pain levels for group A were 3.4 ± 2.61 at 2 hours, 2.8 ± 1.79 at 4 hours, 2.6 ± 1.52 at 6 hours, 3.0 ± 2.0 at 8 hours, 2.4 ± 2.61 at 12 hours, and 2.2 ± 2.68 at 24 hours. The pain levels for group B were 2.2 ± 0.84 at 2 hours, 2.0 ± 0.71 at 4 hours, 1.8 ± 0.84 at 6 hours, 2.0 ± 1.22 at 8 hours, 1.6 ± 0.55 at 12 hours, and 1.4 ± 0.55 at 24 hours.
Conclusions: The data shows a trend toward having no significant difference between the two test groups.