Article révisé par les pairs
Résumé : The nociceptive threshold of the six upper front teeth (left and right central and lateral incisors, and canines) of twelve volunteers was determined by an electrical stimulus delivered by a pulp tester. A single dose of 20 mg p-cyclodextrin-piroxicam, 50 mg potassium diclofenac or 275 mg sodium naproxen was given orally according to a double-blind randomized design with a one week interval between each drug. The nociceptive threshold was recorded every 15 min for 4 h. The analgesic profile was similar for the three drugs. Significant effect was observed after 30 minutes, peak action was reached between 45 and 60 minutes and lasted up to 120 minutes and disappearance of the effect below the level of significance after 150 minutes. The rapid onset of analgesia is consistent with the rapid absorption of these three drugs characterized with a short tmax of about 1 hour or less. The dental pain model explores essentially the central action of drugs on pain. It probably does not evaluate the effect of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs on peripheral antiinflammatory and analgesic activities which account for their more protracted action in relevant clinical situations such as rheumatic, post-traumatic or post-surgical pain and inflammation. The central effect of these drugs on pain is of limited duration, [Article copies available from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-342-9678,]. © 1995, Informa UK Ltd. All rights reserved.