Influence of Maintaining Apical Patency on Post-Endodontic Pain in Molars

Overview

This randomized controlled trial will investigate if maintaining apical patency-a technique where a small file is gently moved past the root's end during cleaning-affects pain after a root canal. The study will include 48 adult patients needing root canal treatment on a back molar tooth with a dead nerve and infection at the root tip. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one where the apical patency technique is used, and one where it is not. All other treatment steps will be identical. Patients will record their pain levels on a standard scale (0-100 mm Visual Analog Scale) at 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after the procedure. The goal is to determine if this specific technique influences the intensity and duration of post-treatment pain

BACKGROUND: Post-operative pain remains a significant challenge in endodontics, impacting patient satisfaction. The clinical practice of maintaining apical patency-passively keeping the apical foramen patent with a small file-is debated, with conflicting evidence on its impact on post-endodontic pain. This study aims to provide clear evidence from a robust randomized controlled trial. OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of maintaining apical patency on the intensity and duration of post-endodontic pain in molars with necrotic pulp and apical periodontitis. METHODS: Study Design: Single-center, randomized, controlled, parallel-group trial. Setting: Department of Operative Dentistry, Saidu College of Dentistry, Swat. Participants: 48 adult patients (aged 18-65, ASA I/II) with a single permanent molar diagnosed with necrotic pulp and symptomatic apical periodontitis. Patients with prior endodontic treatment, complex anatomy, systemic illness, pregnancy, recent analgesic use, or non-restorable teeth will be excluded. Intervention: Patency Group (Experimental): Following determination of working length with an electronic apex locator (verified radiographically), a pre-curved size #10 K-file will be passively advanced 1.0 mm beyond the major apical foramen before and after each successive instrumentation size. Non-Patency Group (Active Comparator): Instrumentation will be carefully confined to the root canal space and will not proceed beyond the apical foramen. Procedure: All participants will receive single-visit root canal treatment under local anesthesia and rubber dam isolation. Cleaning and shaping will be performed using a rotary instrument system. Irrigation will be performed with sodium hypochlorite and EDTA. Obturation will be completed with gutta-percha and sealer via a standardized technique, followed by a composite restoration. Outcome Measure: The primary outcome is post-operative pain intensity, measured using a 100-mm Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Patients will self-record their pain levels at 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours post-operatively. Data Analysis: Data will be analyzed using SPSS Statistics v25. Descriptive statistics will summarize the data. The distribution of pain severity categories will be compared using the Chi-square test. Mean VAS scores between groups will be compared using independent samples t-tests (assuming normal distribution). A p-value of \< 0.05 will be considered statistically significant.