Patients with painful molars will be randomly assigned to 2 different groups: GentleWave and EndoActivator. The root canals will be completed using identical protocols except in the mode of delivery and activation of irrigation (using either the GentleWave or EndoActivator). Postoperative pain and pain pill consumption will be measured for the 4 days following their root canal using a Visual Analog Scale and Pain Pill Log, respectively. The alternative hypothesis is that patients undergoing treatment using the GentleWave will experience less pain postoperatively and will consume fewer pain pills. A 12-month follow up with exam and radiographs will be completed to evaluate healing.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
63
Energy is input into the intracanal irrigants for activation in the hopes of increasing irrigant efficacy.
Saint Louis University Center for Advanced Dental Education
St Louis, Missouri, United States
24 Hour Postoperative Pain for Patients Seen From 09/2020-06/2021
Postoperative Pain will be measured by the patient placing a mark that they feel best represents their level of pain on a 100mm Visual Analog Scale with 'No Pain' on the left (at 0) and 'Worst Pain Possible' on the right (at 100).
Time frame: 24 hours post-operative
24 Hour Postoperative Pain for Patients Seen From 07/2021-03/2022
Postoperative Pain will be measured by the patient placing a mark that they feel best represents their level of pain on a 100mm Visual Analog Scale with 'No Pain' on the left (at 0) and 'Worst Pain Possible' on the right (at 100).
Time frame: 24 hr postoperatively
48 Hour Postoperative Pain for Patients Seen From 09/2020-06/2021
Postoperative Pain will be measured by the patient placing a mark that they feel best represents their level of pain on a 100mm Visual Analog Scale with 'No Pain' on the left (at 0) and 'Worst Pain Possible' on the right (at 100).
Time frame: 48 hours post-operative
48 Hour Postoperative Pain for Patients Seen From 07/2021-03/2022
Postoperative Pain will be measured by the patient placing a mark that they feel best represents their level of pain on a 100mm Visual Analog Scale with 'No Pain' on the left (at 0) and 'Worst Pain Possible' on the right (at 100).
Time frame: 48 hours post-operative
72 Hour Postoperative Pain for Patients Seen From 09/2020-06/2021
Postoperative Pain will be measured by the patient placing a mark that they feel best represents their level of pain on a 100mm Visual Analog Scale with 'No Pain' on the left (at 0) and 'Worst Pain Possible' on the right (at 100).
Time frame: 72 hour post-operative
72 Hour Postoperative Pain for Patients Seen From 07/2021-03/2022
Postoperative Pain will be measured by the patient placing a mark that they feel best represents their level of pain on a 100mm Visual Analog Scale with 'No Pain' on the left (at 0) and 'Worst Pain Possible' on the right (at 100).
Time frame: 72 hours post-operative
96 Hour Postoperative Pain for Patients Seen From 09/2020-06/2021
Postoperative Pain will be measured by the patient placing a mark that they feel best represents their level of pain on a 100mm Visual Analog Scale with 'No Pain' on the left (at 0) and 'Worst Pain Possible' on the right (at 100).
Time frame: 96 hours post-operative
96 Hour Postoperative Pain for Patients Seen From 07/2021-03/2022
Postoperative Pain will be measured by the patient placing a mark that they feel best represents their level of pain on a 100mm Visual Analog Scale with 'No Pain' on the left (at 0) and 'Worst Pain Possible' on the right (at 100).
Time frame: 96 hours post-operative
Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) Healing Assessment
Each tooth root was classified as healed (no periapical radiolucency), healing (periapical radiolucency educed in size), or diseased (periapical radiolucency same size or larger). Pre-operative vs. post-operative periapical health evaluated using radiographs to compare the size of periapical radiolucencies present pre-op vs post-op.
Time frame: 12 month recall
Clinical Tooth Healing Classification Based on Clinical Examination and Patient Report
Teeth were classified as being clinically successful if the patient had no symptoms other than mild tenderness to percussion. Teeth were classified as failures if outside these parameters.
Time frame: 12-month recall
Pain Pill Consumption for Patients Seen From 09/2021-06/2021
Patients will be given 16 tabs of 600mg Ibuprofen and 16 tabs of 650mg Acetaminophen with instructions to take 1 pill every 6 hours as needed for pain. Patients will be given a Pain Pill Log to record each time they take a pill. The total number of pills consumed will be tabulated for each patient.
Time frame: Patient to record on the Pain Pill Log each time that they take a pain pill during the 4 days following their root canal treatment.
Pain Pill Consumption for Patients Seen From 07/2021-03/2022
Patients will be given 16 tabs of 600mg Ibuprofen and 16 tabs of 650mg Acetaminophen with instructions to take 1 pill every 6 hours as needed for pain. Patients will be given a Pain Pill Log to record each time they take a pill. The total number of pills consumed will be tabulated for each patient.
Time frame: Patient to record on the Pain Pill Log each time that they take a pain pill during the 4 days following their root canal treatment.
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