Effect of non-eugenol- and eugenol-containing periodontal dressings on the incidence and severity of pain after periodontal soft tissue surgery.

This study examines the incidence and severity of postoperative pain after gingivectomy using one non-eugenol-containing periodontal dressing, Coe-pak (n = 76) and 2 eugenol-containing periodontal dressings, Wondrpak (n = 64) and Nobetec (n = 86). All patients were subjected to gingivectomy using 1 type of local anaesthesia (lidocaine + adrenalin) only and covering the surgical areas with either of the 3 different dressings in a randomized study. Postoperative pain was assessed on 100 mm visual analogue scales over 5 days starting immediately after surgery. No pain was reported by 22.0% of the patients after Coe-pak, 23.4% after Wondrpak and 30.2% after Nobetec. 13.2% of the patients took analgesics after Coe-pak treatment, 3.1% after Wondrpak and 1.2% after Nobetec. Mean pain score after Coe-pak was higher (P less than 0.05) than after Nobetec 2 h after operation until the morning on the 3rd postoperative day. Mean pain score after Coe-pak was higher (P less than 0.05) than after Wondrpak 3 h to 9 h after operation. No statistically significant difference was found between Wondrpak and Nobetec regarding mean pain score.