Analgesics for Dental Implants: A Systematic Review.

Area of Science:

• Oral Surgery
• Pharmacology
• Evidence-Based Dentistry

Background:

• Postsurgical pain is a significant concern following dental and oral surgery.
• Effective management of postoperative pain is crucial for patient recovery and satisfaction.
• Analgesics are commonly investigated for their role in mitigating pain after surgical procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on analgesics for managing postoperative pain after dental implant surgery.
• To identify optimal therapeutic protocols for pain management in this context.
• To pinpoint existing knowledge gaps in the literature regarding analgesic efficacy.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was performed across major databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS, ClinicalTrials.gov, Cochrane Database) up to May 2020.
• Inclusion criteria were limited to randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
• A narrative synthesis was conducted due to limitations in meta-analysis feasibility, adhering to PRISMA guidelines and assessing risk of bias using the Cochrane RoB2 tool.

Main Results:

• Eleven RCTs involving 762 patients were included in the review.
• Four studies had low risk of bias, two had high risk, and five had some concerns regarding randomization.
• Analgesic administration appeared to be associated with improved postoperative outcomes, including reduced pain, increased patient satisfaction, and decreased need for rescue medication, when compared to placebo.

Conclusions:

• The administration of analgesics may offer benefits in managing postoperative outcomes after dental implant placement.
• Current evidence suggests a positive trend but does not provide definitive guidance on the optimal choice of analgesics.
• Further research is needed to establish best practices and specific recommendations for analgesic use in this surgical setting.