Comparative efficacy of soluble aspirin and aspirin tablets in postoperative dental pain

The efficacy of single doses (1.2 g) of soluble aspirin and aspirin tablets was determined in a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel study in 90 patients (45 females) with postoperative pain after removal of impacted lower third molars. Also investigated was the relationship between plasma aspirin esterase activity and overall pain scores after both aspirin preparations. Patients reported significantly less pain (p less than 0.001) after treatment with aspirin than after treatment with placebo. However, patients receiving soluble aspirin reported both an earlier onset and a longer duration of pain relief than those who received aspirin tablets. A significant correlation was observed between plasma aspirin esterase activity and overall pain scores after both soluble aspirin (r = 0.57, p less than 0.01) and aspirin tablets (r = 0.51, p less than 0.02). It is concluded that soluble aspirin is the preferred aspirin formulation for treating postoperative pain after third molar surgery and that plasma aspirin esterase activity is determinant of a patient's analgesic response to aspirin in postoperative dental pain.