Efficacy of nimesulide versus meloxicam in the control of pain, swelling and trismus following extraction of impacted lower third molar

This study compared the efficacy of nimesulide and meloxicam in the control of pain, swelling and trismus, following the extraction of impacted inferior third molars. Twenty patients with two impacted inferior third molars, in similar positions, were selected. The patients were designated randomly to the meloxicam group (MEL: 7.5 mg twice a day for 5 days) or the nimesulide group (NIM: 100 mg for 5 days). Following the extractions, swelling was more pronounced in the MEL group than in the NIM group (P ≤ 0.001). There were no significant differences in pain intensity between the treatment groups (P > 0.05). At the 72-h evaluation, reduction was significantly larger in mouth opening in the MEL group compared with the NIM group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, pain control was similar in both treatment groups. NIM was more effective than MEL in the control of swelling and trismus following the extraction of impacted lower third molars.