Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

Dr.  Nadia Abazarnia, DDS

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications are indicated for the relief of preoperative and postoperative pain.  These drugs can manage the pain of procedures that create an inflammatory response. Inflammatory response is what activates the pain-producing mediators in tissue. Generally, procedures on hard tooth structure that do not involve the pulp create little or no inflammatory response, but, when soft tissues are traumatized, a pain response can be expected.

Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory drugs therapeutic actions include:

• Analgesic  (relieves pain)
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antipyretic (reduction of elevated body temperature)

On the downside, NSAIDs are associated with adverse effects, the most significant of which include:

• Gastrointestinal irritation
• Inhibition of platelet aggregation
• Allergy (including cross-allergenecity with aspirin in some cases)

These drugs possess advantages over opioids and opioid combination products in that they do not produce drowsiness and sedation, are not controlled substances (they do not produce tolerance and dependence).