Study to Compare the the Analgesic Efficacy and Tolerability of Meloxicam Versus Placebo and Ibuprofen in the Treatment of Pain After Surgery of the Third Molar

Inclusion Criteria: * Male or female aged 18 years or above * Patients undergoing removal of one impacted mandibular third molar under local anesthesia. (Short duration anaesthetics will be allowed, i.e. mepivacaine 3% in Italy and Spain and xylocaine in USA, both without vasoconstrictors) Only patients with type of inclusion II to IV have to be included (type II, molar in the submucosa; type III, molar partially included in the bone; type IV, molar fully included in the bone) * Assessment of pain must be at least 50 mm on a 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS) * Patient informed consent in accordance with local legislation. Exclusion Criteria: * Type I of inclusion (molar partially or totally erupted) * Known or suspected hypersensitivity to trial drug or their excipients, analgesics, antipyretics or nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAIDs) * Any clinical evidence of active peptic ulceration during the last six month * Recurrent ulcers * Pregnancy or breast feeding * Asthma, nasal polyps, angioneurotic oedema or urticaria following the administration of aspirin or NSAIDs * Concomitant treatment with anti-coagulants (including heparin), lithium * Concomitant administration of other anti inflammatory or analgesic agents * Administration of any drug with analgesic properties in the 24 h previous to the administration of the study drug, except the local anesthetic for the surgery * Administration of any antibiotics * Significant perioperative complication judged by the oral surgeon * Clinical evidence of or known severe cardiac, hepatic, renal, metabolic, hematological disease (including bleeding disorders), mental disturbance, ulcerative colitis * Any other disease that could interfere with the evaluation of efficacy and safety * Participation in another clinical trial during this study or during the previous month * Previous participation in this trial * Patient unable to comply with the protocol