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NCT Number: NCT04059172

Efficacy of Combined Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen Therapy Versus Ibuprofen Alone Versus Placebo Alone for Pain Management

The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of a combined ibuprofen and acetaminophen regimen in controlling discomfort for 4 days after initial orthodontic appliance placement as compared to ibuprofen alone or a placebo. The hypothesis is that combined ibuprofen and acetaminophen therapy will effectively provide better pain control than ibuprofen alone or a placebo after orthodontic appliance placement.

Recruiting

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Key information

Age range

12 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Early Phase 1

Primary location

University of Colorado, School of Dental Medicine

Aurora, Colorado, 80045, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Clifton Carey, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

303-724-1046

Craig Shellhart, DDS

CONTACT

[email protected]

3037246993

Kyle Aten, DDS

SUB_INVESTIGATOR

Matthew Iritani, DDS

SUB_INVESTIGATOR

About this study

Orthodontic pain is often reported for the first 4 days after the appliances are attached. This study will investigate two modes of pain management versus a placebo. Consented subjects will be randomly assigned to one of 3 groups: Group A, a combined and simultaneous therapy of 200 mg ibuprofen and 650 mg acetaminophen (3 pills total) taken orally at set time intervals (0 h, 6 h, 12 h, and 24h, 48h, 72h, and 96h); Group B, ibuprofen alone (200 mg) taken orally at same time intervals (1 ibuprofen and 2 placebo pills); Group C, placebo taken orally at the same time intervals (3 placebo pills).

The study will be blinded for the investigators, patients, and statisticians.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • scheduled to begin comprehensive orthodontic treatment (banding/bonding of at least 10 teeth in 1 arch and archwire placement in at least 1 arch);
  • extractions, if required, performed at least 2 weeks before appliance and archwire placement;
  • healthy with no significant medical findings;
  • no prophylactic antibiotic coverage required;
  • currently not taking antibiotics or analgesics;
  • no contraindications to the use of acetaminophen or ibuprofen; and
  • minimum age of 12 years

Exclusion criteria

  • Under the age of 12 or over the age of 80,
  • prisoners,
  • pregnant women,
  • decisionally challenged individuals,
  • allergy to either medication,
  • history of kidney disease,
  • liver damage or disease,
  • alcoholism/use of 3 or more alcoholic drinks during study period,
  • use of blood thinners,
  • stomach ulcers or
  • stomach bleeding.

Treatment and study plan

Ibuprofen 200 mg and acetaminphen 650 mg

Drug

For morning appliance placement: dose #1 at approximately 9:00 a.m. as appointment starts; dose #2 6 hours later (3:00 p.m- or as soon after school and close to 3 pm as possible.); dose #3 another 6 hours later (9:00 p.m.); dose #4 the following morning upon waking (approximately 24 hours from start and patient will record the time), doses #5 through #7 will be taken every morning upon waking on the second, third, and fourth days, respectively.

For afternoon appliance placement: dose #1 at approximately 2:00 p.m. as appointment starts; dose #2 6 hours later (8:00 p.m.); dose #3 the following morning upon waking (approximately 12 hours later and patient will record the time); dose #4 6 hours later from dose #3 (approximately 24 hours from the initial dose) around 2:00 p.m. (or as soon after school as possible) doses #5 through #7 will be taken every afternoon at 2:00 p.m. on the second, third, and fourth days, respectively.

Ibuprofen 200 mg

Drug

For morning appliance placement: dose #1 at approximately 9:00 a.m. as appointment starts; dose #2 6 hours later (3:00 p.m- or as soon after school and close to 3 pm as possible.); dose #3 another 6 hours later (9:00 p.m.); dose #4 the following morning upon waking (approximately 24 hours from start and patient will record the time), doses #5 through #7 will be taken every morning upon waking on the second, third, and fourth days, respectively.

For afternoon appliance placement: dose #1 at approximately 2:00 p.m. as appointment starts; dose #2 6 hours later (8:00 p.m.); dose #3 the following morning upon waking (approximately 12 hours later and patient will record the time); dose #4 6 hours later from dose #3 (approximately 24 hours from the initial dose) around 2:00 p.m. (or as soon after school as possible) doses #5 through #7 will be taken every afternoon at 2:00 p.m. on the second, third, and fourth days, respectively.

Placebo oral tablet

Drug

For morning appliance placement: dose #1 at approximately 9:00 a.m. as appointment starts; dose #2 6 hours later (3:00 p.m- or as soon after school and close to 3 pm as possible.); dose #3 another 6 hours later (9:00 p.m.); dose #4 the following morning upon waking (approximately 24 hours from start and patient will record the time), doses #5 through #7 will be taken every morning upon waking on the second, third, and fourth days, respectively.

For afternoon appliance placement: dose #1 at approximately 2:00 p.m. as appointment starts; dose #2 6 hours later (8:00 p.m.); dose #3 the following morning upon waking (approximately 12 hours later and patient will record the time); dose #4 6 hours later from dose #3 (approximately 24 hours from the initial dose) around 2:00 p.m. (or as soon after school as possible) doses #5 through #7 will be taken every afternoon at 2:00 p.m. on the second, third, and fourth days, respectively.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in visual analogue score (VAS) over time

    Time frame: 0 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, and 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, and 96 hours after placement of appliances

    Primary outcomes with be the pain values recorded by subjects when chewing on the 100-mm VAS at set times.The VAS line for each time period will be 100 mm long with no intermediate delineations. Each end will be marked with "no pain" on the left, and "worst possible pain" on the right.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Dosing Compliance

    Time frame: to be recorded at 0 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, and 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, and 96 hours after placement of appliances.

    The VAS containing booklet will ask the patient to record if he or she took all of the pills provided at each time point to monitor compliance. Additionally, the VAS containing booklet will ask the patient to record will ask if any additional medication was taken and if so, to name the additional medication and dosage.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Clifton M Carey, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

3037241046

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Colorado, Denver

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Efficacy of Combined Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen Therapy Versus Ibuprofen Alone Versus Placebo Alone for Pain of Initial Orthodontic Wire Insertion: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2019
Primary completion
2028
Study completion
2028
First posted
Aug 16, 2019
Registry last updated
May 14, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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