Investigation of the effect of ibuprofen on the healing of osseointegrated oral implants.

To investigate the effect of a 1-week postoperative course of 600 mg of ibuprofen taken four times a day on marginal bone level around oral implants. Twenty-eight patients were allocated to the ibuprofen group (14 patients) or no-ibuprofen group (14 patients). Overall, 57 implants were inserted, 31 implants in the ibuprofen group and 26 in the no-ibuprofen group. The primary outcome measure was the change in marginal bone level around oral implants from baseline (2 weeks postplacement) to the 3- and 6-month radiographic examinations. The paralleling technique and a film holder coupled to a beam-aiming device were used to take the periapical radiographs. Measurement of changes in bone level was made using a viewing box and ×8 magnifier. Three subjects were withdrawn from the therapy early as they did not complete the dose of ibuprofen (e.g. because of self-reported stomach upset). The mean marginal mesial bone loss from the baseline was 0.37 mm at the 3-month and 0.27 mm at the 6-month follow up for the ibuprofen group, while the corresponding values for the no-ibuprofen group were 0.15 mm and 0.08 mm. The mean marginal distal bone loss from the baseline was 0.42 mm at the 3-month and 0.2 mm at the 6-month follow up for the ibuprofen group, while the corresponding values for the no-ibuprofen group were 0.08 mm and 0.15 mm. There were no significant differences between the ibuprofen and no-ibuprofen groups when comparing the bone changes. Administration of a short course of systemic ibuprofen for postoperative pain management following implant insertion may not have a significant effect on the marginal bone loss around oral implants in the early healing phase.