Evaluation of the effect of Echium amoenum on pain control after clinical crown lengthening surgery

BACKGROUND. Pain after periodontal surgeries is one of the most common complications. Echium amoenum is among the important therapeutic herbs in Iranian traditional medicine. Various studies have shown its pain control properties. This study aimed to evaluate this herb’s efficacy in controlling pain after periodontal surgeries. METHODS. In this randomized clinical trial, 50 patients referred to Tabriz Dental School for clinical crown lengthening surgery were divided into two equal groups: control and test. In the test group (using E. amoenum), 24 hours before surgery, E. amoenum was administered to the patient at home every 12 hours, and a dose of E. amoenum was administered one hour before the procedure. The postoperative pain was assessed using VAS 30 minutes, 1 hour, and 3 hours after the surgery and verbal rating scale (VRS) 24, 48, and 72 hours postoperatively. A chi-square test was used to compare the pain severity between the two groups. RESULTS. The VAS index was significantly lower in the E. amoenum group compared to the control group (30 minutes, 1 hour, and 3 hours after the procedure) (P<0.05). In both groups, pain severity increased significantly up to 3 hours postoperatively (P<0.05). In the first 24 hours, the VRS index of the E. amoenum group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05), with no significant differences between the two groups at 48 and 72 hours (P>0.05). CONCLUSION. The E. amoenum herb reduced the pain severity after clinical crown lengthening surgeries.