NobelGuide™ influence in the perception of postoperative pain

The aim of this study was to evaluate the perception of pain after Computer-aided-implantology Implant Surgery (NobelGuideTM, Nobel Biocare, Göteborg, Sweden) compared to the conventional implant surgery.

Eighteen patients from dental and maxillo-facial clinic of Policlinico G. B. Rossi (Verona, Italy) have been recruited: 9 were treated with the NobelGuide™ Technique, and 9 with the conventional one (approved by Local Ethical Committee) After the operation, painkillers (Ibuprofene tablets of 400 mg) were prescribed to the patients. Patients were asked to answer a questionnaire during the postoperative days and to report on the Visual Analogue Scale form (VAS), the intensity of pain and the number of painkillers used.

The VAS mean one day after the operation (peak of maximum pain) was 47.22 for the conventional technique, and 12.77 for the NobelGuide™ technique, and also the number of painkillers assumed is smaller for the NobelGuide™ technique. The 5th day after the operation all the patients treated with the NobelGuide™ Technique stopped painkillers and nobody felt pain, while the patients treated with the conventional technique felt more pain and for a longer period. They also took painkillers until the 7th day.

Pain is minor and disappears more quickly with the Nobelguide™ Implant Surgery compared with the conventional surgical technique. Nobelguide™ Implant Surgery can reduce hospitalization improving the compliance of odontophobic patients towards implant therapy.