Effectiveness of ginger on pain following periodontal surgery – A randomized cross-over clinical trial

Ibuprofen is one of the generally prescribed Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for postoperative pain after periodontal surgery, but are contraindicated in certain patients. Ginger, which is the rhizome of Zingiber officinale, being a common herbal drug having anti-inflammatory as well as analgesic activities can be an efficient substitute for synthetic agents like Ibuprofen. To compare the effectiveness of ibuprofen and dried ginger powder on pain and gingival inflammation following open flap debridement. Ten systemically healthy individuals with chronic generalized periodontitis were selected for this single-blinded randomized cross-over clinical trial and underwent open flap debridement in at least two quadrants. Each quadrant was randomly allocated to receive either Ibuprofen (400 mg) or Ginger powder capsules (400 mg) thrice daily for three days. Subjects were requested to note down the pain score on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) provided in a printed format, for the first eight hours after surgery and on the following two days, and gingival inflammation was assessed after one week, using Modified Gingival Index (MGI). The difference in the VAS score and MGI between the two groups was not of statistical significance. Effectiveness of ginger powder for the management of pain and gingival inflammation following open flap debridement is comparable to that of ibuprofen.