A randomized, double-blind clinical trial was carried out involving 25 patients scheduled for the removal of symmetrically positioned lower third molars in separate procedures. Either 100 mg of nimesulide or 7.5 mg of meloxicam was administered 1 hour before surgery and every 12 hours after surgery for 2 days. Evaluations were carried out in the preoperative period as well as on the second and seventh days after surgery. Objective and subjective parameters were recorded for comparison purposes. The patients having received nimesulide had less of a need for additional pain medication in the first 48 hours and had lower pain scale values (P < 0.05). There was less trismus in the meloxicam group (P > 0.05). Postoperative swelling was lower in the nimesulide group (P < 0.05). All measurements on the second day were lower in the nimesulide group (P < 0.001), and only one of these parameters was lower on the seventh day in the nimesulide group, distance from the lower edge of the tragus to the lip commissure on the operated side (P = 0.009, P < 0.001) compared with another group. Nimesulide proved effective in controlling pain and swelling after surgical removal of the lower third molars, with few adverse effects. Meloxicam proved effective in diminishing trismus.