Preemptive Oral Etoricoxib on Health-Related Quality of Life after Mandibular Third Molar Surgery: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

This study was aimed at evaluating the use of oral etoricoxib for preemptive analgesia on the health-related quality of life (QoL) outcome after the extraction of mandibular third molar. The study population consisted of 60 participants that required extraction of a single partial bony impacted mandibular third molar under local anesthesia and met the inclusion criteria. The participants were randomized into two groups. The etoricoxib group orally received 60 mg etoricoxib 30 min before surgery, whereas the control group was given a placebo. The patients were assessed postoperatively after 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 days using the United Kingdom oral health-related QoL questionnaire and visual analog scale for maximum postoperative pain. The total dose of ibuprofen rescue intake and total number of days the drug was taken were recorded. Surgical removal of impacted teeth had a negative influence on the patient's QoL across various physical, social, and psychological aspects. The scores for postoperative pain in the etoricoxib group were significantly lower than those in the control group on each postoperative observation day. The number of patients without analgesic rescue medication, the average amount, and total number of days emergency analgesics were taken were significantly lower in the etoricoxib group than in the control group. The etoricoxib group showed better QoL score than the control group. Preemptive oral etoricoxib is an effective therapeutic strategy for improving the QoL after surgical removal of the impacted lower third molar.