This study compares post-operative pain in teeth with asymptomatic irreversible pulpitis treated with versus without apical patency during root canal treatment.
Asymptomatic irreversible pulpitis is a condition where the dental pulp is inflamed but the patient does not feel spontaneous pain. Apical patency is a technique where a small flexible file is passed gently beyond the tip of the tooth root during cleaning and shaping.
One hundred fifty patients with premolar teeth diagnosed with asymptomatic irreversible pulpitis were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The Apical Patency Group received root canal treatment with a #10 K-file passed 0.5 mm beyond the working length after each rotary instrument. The Non-Patency Group received the same treatment but no instrument was passed beyond the working length.
The primary outcome is pain incidence at 24 hours measured on a Numerical Rating Scale (0 to 10, where 0 is no pain and 10 is worst pain imaginable). Secondary outcomes include pain intensity at 6,12,24,48,72 hours, number of ibuprofen tablets taken for pain, and time until pain completely resolves.
The study aims to determine whether the apical patency technique reduces post-operative pain compared to standard treatment without patency.