Local anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect of 0.074% diclofenac mouthwash in post-operative periodontally treated patients

Pain is the most pervasive and universal form of human distress. The costs of pain in human suffering and economic resources are extraordinary. It is the most common reason for seeking medical care, and it has been estimated that approximately 80% of physician office visits involve a pain component. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most widely used class of drugs for the management of acute and chronic pain in dentistry. NSAIDs minimize edema, but they are associated with many adverse effects, like gastric irritability, as dyspepsia and gastric bleeding which lead to a number of contraindications. Diclofenac is a powerful anti-inflammatory and analgesic drug that is well suited for local use in the oral cavity. This study was conducted in order to determine the local anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect of 0.074% diclofenac mouthwash on patients with periodontal surgery. Twenty five chronic periodontitis patients (fifteen males and ten females) who were supposed to go for full quadrant flap surgery were selected for the study. The 10-point visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess pain and the Modified Gingival Index (MGI). Additional parameters like swelling and burning sensation was evaluated on a 5-point scale (0=absent, 1=mild, 2=moderate, 3=intense, 4=not evaluated). Compared to baseline measurements, spontaneous pain was significantly reduced by diclofenac mouthwash on the first day of treatment which showed gradual decrease till 7th day. Other parameters, i.e. gingival inflammation, showed a highly significant reduction in the scores in the test group when compared to baseline. The new 0.074% diclofenac mouthwash is an effective and tolerable medicinal product for post-surgical symptomatic relief. This topical formulation is sufficiently effective for pain relief after minor oral surgical procedures without subjecting the patients to systemic side-effects.