Observational study of the use of Symphytum 5CH in the management of pain and swelling after dental implant surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of Symphytum 5CH on the postoperative pain and swelling after placement of a titanium dental implant.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data on pain and swelling following pure titanium implants were reviewed. Patients were treated postoperatively with ketoprofen only or ketoprofen and Symphytum 5CH, according to the treating dentist's usual practice. Demographics and baseline characteristics were recorded and compared. Pain and swelling were compared between the two treatment groups using the Wilcoxon rank sum test and ordinal logistic regression, estimating odds ratios and confidence intervals.

RESULTS: 100 implants in 57 patients (28 males, 29 females) were treated with ketoprofen alone; 100 implants in 60 patients (14 males, 46 females) with ketoprofen and Symphytum. The group treated with ketoprofen and Symphytum appeared to have a better response in terms of both pain and swelling. Ordinal logistic regression: pain 0.23, 95% CI 0.13-0.41; swelling 0.24, 95% CI 0.13-0.44. Correction for demographics and implant characteristics greatly widened the confidence intervals so that the results were no longer statistically significant (pain: OR = 0.15, 95% CI 0.07-34.56; swelling OR = 0.18, 95% CI 0.07-46.78).

CONCLUSIONS: Adding Symphytum 5CH to conventional analgesia may reduce pain and swelling after minor dental implant surgery. No firm conclusion can be drawn since the results are confounded by baseline differences, principally gender. Further, randomized, studies should be conducted.