Comparison of the analgesic efficacy of dexketoprofen trometamol and paracetamol with naproxen sodium and codeine phosphate combinations in acute toothache

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of naproxen sodium + codeine phosphate and dexketoprofen trometamol + paracetamol combinations in the treatment of acute dental pain during the preoperative period. Patients with complaints of acute pericoronitis caused by a semi-erupted lower impacted third molar were included in the study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups, naproxen sodium + codeine phosphate (550/30 mg) in group A and dexketoprofen trometamol + paracetamol (25/300 mg) in group B, and pain was assessed by VAS. The collected data were statistically analysed and interpreted using SPSS. The Friedman test (a non-parametric test) was used to analyse data within groups. The independent groups t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test were used to analyse data between groups. Of the 62 patients included in the study, 51 (82.3%) were female and 11 (17.7%) were male, with a mean age of 22.94 years. As a result of the 7-day evaluation, the VAS average in group A decreased from 7.61 to 1.26, representing an 83.44% decrease, while in group B, it decreased from 7.19 to 0.61, representing an 91.52% decrease. When the VAS averages of groups A and B were compared over time, statistically significant differences were only found between the values on day 7 (p < 0.05). Both analgesics were effective in acute dental pain. The results of this study support the use of dexketoprofen trometamol + paracetamol and naproxen sodium + codeine phosphate combinations in the treatment of acute dental pain during preoperative period. Clinical Trial Registration: This trial was retrospectively registered on http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ on 21 March 2025 under the title 'Evaluation of the Analgesic Efficacy of the Combination of Dexketoprofen + Paracetamol and the Combination of Naproxen Sodium + Codeine in Patients With Acute Dental Pain' and number NCT06916234.