To evaluate whether maintenance of apical patency has an effect on post-operative pain in symptomatic irreversible pulpitis cases: an in vivo study

Authors: MANSI PUNJABI, sonal mukhraiya, apoorva sharma, rohit kochhar, manju kumari

DOI: 10.18231/j.ijce.12455.1758517940

Keywords: Apical patency; Multiple visits; symptomatic irreversible pulpitis; post-operative pain

Abstract: Context: Apical patency is the idea of using a small, flexible file to instrument beyond the apical foramen to avoid apical obstruction. Aims: This study evaluated whether maintaining apical patency in symptomatic irreversible pulpitis cases affects post-operative pain. Settings and Design: This was a prospective, randomized clinical study conducted in a postgraduate department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, involving 30 patients diagnosed with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. Methods and Material: Thirty patients based on pulp status were randomly divided into 2 groups, apical patency(n=15) and non-patency (n=15). Using a size 10 K-file, apical patency was preserved. The intensity of pain was recorded pre-operatively, at 24 hours and 48 hours on the VAS scale. Statistical analysis used: The data were tabulated in Microsoft Excel and analyzed with SPSS V.24 software. Independent t-tests and one-way ANOVA were used for the statistical analysis. The p-value ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The reduction of VAS score from pre-operative stage to post-operative 48 hours was statistically significant in both the patency and non-patency groups (p=0.001 for both) but the overall reduction in pain was more in the patency group. Conclusions: We may conclude that maintaining apical patency does not increase postoperative pain.