Table 2

NNT for at least 50% pain relief in dental pain


Improved with

Mean percent improved with




Number of trials
 Drug and dose (mg)
 Active
 Placebo
 Relative risk (95% CI)
 NNT (95% CI)
 Placebo
 Active
Six hours






13
 Rofecoxib 50 mg
 832/1330
 58/570
 5.9 (4.6 to 7.5)
 1.9 (1.8 to 2.1)
 10
 63
6
 Ibuprofen 400 mg
 159/303
 25/298
 6.3 (4.2 to 9.2)
 2.3 (2.0 to 2.7)
 9
 53
1
 Diclofenac 50 mg
 32/121
 8/63
 2.1 (1.02 to 4.2)
 7.3 (4.0 to 42)
 13
 26
2
 Naproxen 550 mg
 52/88
 9/87
 5.7 (3.0 to 11)
 2.1 (1.6 to 2.7)
 11
 59
2
 Oxycodone 5 mg + paracetamol 325 mg
 30/180
 5/61
 2.0 (0.8 to 5.0)
 nc
 8
 17
2
 Paracetamol 600 mg + codeine 60 mg
 102/360
 11/61
 1.6 (0.9 to 2.7)
 nc
 18
 28
Eight hours






13
 Rofecoxib 50 mg
 814/1330
 62/570
 5.4 (4.3 to 6.9)
 2.0 (1.9 to 2.1)
 11
 61
6
 Ibuprofen 400 mg
 135/303
 25/298
 5.3 (3.6 to 7.9)
 2.8 (2.4 to 3.4)
 8
 44
1
 Diclofenac 50 mg
 32/121
 11/63
 1.5 (0.8 to 2.8)
 nc
 17
 26
6
 Ibuprofen 400 mg
 135/303
 25/298
 5.3 (3.6 to 7.9)
 2.8 (2.4 to 3.4)
 8
 44
2
 Naproxen 550 mg
 45/88
 8/87
 5.6 (2.8 to 11)
 2.4 (1.9 to 3.4)
 10
 51
2
 Oxycodone 5 mg + paracetamol 325 mg
 21/180
 4/61
 1.8 (0.6 to 5.0)
 nc
 6
 12
2
 Paracetamol 600 mg + codeine 60 mg
 70/360
 10/61
 1.2 (0.7 to 2.1)
 nc
 16
 20
Twelve hours






13
 Rofecoxib 50 mg
 662/1330
 46/570
 5.9 (4.5 to 7.8)
 2.4 (2.2 to 2.6)
 8
 50
6
 Ibuprofen 400 mg
 73/303
 19/298
 3.8 (2.4 to 6.1)
 5.6 (4.3 to 8.2)
 6
 24
1
 Diclofenac 50 mg
 No data – doses repeated every 8 hours


6
 Ibuprofen 400 mg
 73/303
 19/298
 3.8 (2.4 to 6.1)
 5.6 (4.3 to 8.2)
 6
 24
2
 Naproxen 550 mg
 30/88
 7/87
 4.2 (2.0 to 9.1)
 3.9 (2.7 to 7.0)
 8
 34
2
 Oxycodone 5 mg + paracetamol 325 mg
 15/180
 2/61
 2.5 (0.6 to 11)
 nc
 3
 8
2
 Paracetamol 600 mg + codeine 60 mg
 30/360
 8/61
 0.6 (0.3 to 1.3)
 nc
 13
 8
Twenty-four hours






13
 Rofecoxib 50 mg
 595/1330
 49/570
 5.1 (3.9 to 6.7)
 2.8 (2.5 to 3.1)
 9
 45
6
 Ibuprofen 400 mg
 43/303
 21/298
 2.0 (1.2 to 3.3)
 14 (8.3 to 44)
 7
 14
1
 Diclofenac 50 mg
 No data – doses repeated every 8 hours



6
 Ibuprofen 400 mg
 43/303
 21/298
 2.0 (1.2 to 3.3)
 14 (8.3 to 44)
 7
 14
2
 Naproxen 550 mg
 24/88
 8/87
 3.0 (1.4 to 6.2)
 5.5 (3.4 to 14)
 9
 27
2
 Oxycodone 5 mg + paracetamol 325 mg
 18/1804
 61
 1.4 (0.5 to 3.6)
 nc
 7
 10
2
 Paracetamol 600 mg + codeine 60 mg
 24/360
 7/61
 0.6 (0.3 to 1.2)
 nc
 11
 7

nc: not calculated because relative risk showed no statistically significant difference between active and placebo. Naproxen was given as the sodium salt

Edwards et al. BMC Anesthesiology 2004 4:3   doi:10.1186/1471-2253-4-3