Occlusal Reduction and Postoperative Pain

Overview

The purpose of this randomized clinical study was to evaluate the impact of occlusal reduction on the incidences of post-instrumentation and post-obturation pain. Forty four patients were included in this study. Inclusion criteria were posterior mandibular teeth having symptomatic irreversible pulpitis and symptomatic apical periodontitis. Patients were randomized into two equal groups. In the intervention group the functional and nonfunctional cusps were reduced until absence of contact was confirmed, while in the control group the occlusal surfaces were left intact. Standard endodontic treatment was performed in two visits using rotary nickel titanium files for shaping, 2.5% sodium hypochlorite for cleaning and lateral condensation technique with resin sealer for obturation. Pain was assessed preoperatively, then after 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours following instrumentation, then after 6 and 12 hours following obturation. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used as the primary outcome measure. Patients were given a placebo to be administrated in case of severe pain and ibuprofen 400mg was prescribed in case of persistent pain.

Recruitment of the study participants was done from the outpatient clinic of the Endodontic Department of the Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine, Cairo University. Randomization was done to assign participants to the study groups by chance and not choice. 44 numbers were generated and randomly allocated to either intervention or control group on a table using Microsoft Office Excel 2010. Each participant was given a number from 1 to 44 according to his turn in enrollment in the study. Root canal treatment was completed in two visits. Before treatment, each patient was given pain scale chart and was asked to record their pain level. The tooth was anesthetized using inferior alveolar nerve block technique by local anesthesia of 1.8 - 3.6 ml of 2% Mepivacaine HCl. The access cavity preparation was performed using round carbide bur and Endo-z bur. After access cavity in the intervention group, all occlusal contacts on the functional and non-functional cusps as well as on the marginal ridges were reduced using a wheel diamond bur. Absence of contact was confirmed using an articulating paper. In the control group, all occlusal contacts were left intact. The tooth was then properly isolated with rubber dam. The patency of the root canals was confirmed using stainless steel hand K-files size #10 and #15. Working length was determined using an electronic apex locator and confirmed radiographically to be 1 mm shorter than radiographic apex. Mechanical preparation was done by crown-down technique using rotary Revo-S instruments and Ethylene Diamine Tetra Aceticacid gel as a lubricant. The canals were thoroughly irrigated using 3ml of 2.5% sodium hypochlorite following each instrument. After dryness of the canals using paper points, a cotton pellet was placed in the pulp chamber and the access cavity was sealed with a temporary filling. After 7 days, the root canals were obturated with lateral condensation technique using 0.04 taper gutta-percha and AdSeal resin-based root canal sealer. Degree of postoperative pain was measured using visual analogue scale (VAS) after 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours after instrumentation then at 6 and 12 hours after obturation. The VAS consists of a 10-cm line anchored by two extremes "No pain" and "pain as bad as could be". The patients were asked to choose the mark that represents their level of pain. Pain level was assigned to one of four categorical scores: 1, None(0); 2,Mild(1-3); 3,Moderate(4-6); 4,Severe(7-10) 10. In case of moderate to severe postoperative pain, the patients were instructed to take a capsule of placebo given to him/her at the end of each visit. In case of persistent pain, patients were allowed to take Ibuprofen 400mg. The incidence of placebo intake and number of analgesic tablets taken were recorded by the patients.