EVALUATING THE EFFICACY OF DICLOFENAC IN MANAGING POSTOPERATIVE SEQUELAE AFTER MANDIBULAR THIRD MOLAR EXTRACTION – A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS

Objectives: Postoperative pain following mandibular third molar surgery is a prevalent and often debilitating
condition that necessitates targeted pain management. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are
commonly prescribed to alleviate this discomfort. This review aims to provide an updated synthesis of the current
evidence on the efficacy and safety of diclofenac for managing postoperative pain after third molar surgery, by
evaluating findings from relevant studies in the dental literature.
Materials and Methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed and EBSCOhost databases until March
2025. The present systematic review assessed the effectiveness and safety of diclofenac for managing postoperative
pain following third molar removal. Twenty-eight studies were included for review based on PRISMA guidelines.
The review encompassed randomized controlled trials and clinical trials that examined postoperative pain
management after mandibular third molar surgery.
Results: The present systematic review and meta-analysis included 24 studies. For statistical analysis, six study data
for visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score were used. The pooled effect size of VAS pain scores was statistically
not significant when compared to diclofenac versus other NSAIDs.
Conclusion: Diclofenac is a key analgesic for postoperative dental pain and has a favorable safety profile and
efficacy. However, further research is needed to assess its long-term safety and efficacy in chronic pain
management.