Intracanal medications versus placebo in reducing postoperative endodontic pain – a double – blind randomized clinical trial

This prospective randomized, double-blind factorial study aimed to compare the efficacy of three different intracanal medicaments with the placebo in controlling the postoperative pain after complete root canal preparation. The study was performed on 64 mandibular molars of 64 patients with diagnosis of pulp necrosis and acute apical periodontitis. After chemomechanical procedures using the stepback technique and 1% sodium hypochlorite, the teeth were randomized into four treatment groups (n=16). In group I, canals were filled with calcium hydroxide paste mixed with 2% chlorhexidine gel, group II received 2% chlorhexidine gel, group III was treated with calcium hydroxide paste, and group IV received no dressing (control). Before dismissal, preoperative pain experience was recorded using a visual analog pain scale. Patients were then instructed to quantify the degree of pain experienced 4 h after treatment and daily for a further 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA test and post hoc Tukey's HSD test revealed that at each time interval groups I and II were significantly more effective in reducing the postoperative pain values than groups III and IV (p<0.05). Dunnett's test showed that groups I and II differed significantly from control whereas difference between group III and control was not significant (p>0.05). Patients with pulp necrosis and acute apical periodontitis that had been dressed with chlorhexidine alone and calcium hydroxide plus chlorhexidine gave rise to less pain than that experienced by patients who had a calcium hydroxide dressing alone or no dressing at all.

Este estudo prospectivo randomizado, duplo-cego, fatorial teve como objetivo comparar a eficácia de três diferentes medicamentos intracanal com o placebo no controle da dor pós-operatória após a preparação completa do canal radicular. O estudo foi realizado em 64 molares inferiores de 64 pacientes com diagnóstico de necrose pulpar e periodontite apical aguda. Após os procedimentos químico-mecânicos com a técnica escalonada (stepback) e hipoclorito de sódio a 1%, os dentes foram divididos aleatoriamente em quatro grupos de tratamento (n=16 por grupo). No grupo I, os canais foram preenchidos com pasta de hidróxido de cálcio misturado com 2% de clorexidina gel, grupo II receberam 2% de clorexidina gel, grupo III foi tratado com uma pasta de hidróxido de cálcio e do grupo IV não receberam curativo (controle). Antes de liberar o paciente, a sensação de dor pré-operatória foi registrada com uma escala visual analógica. Os pacientes foram instruídos para quantificar o grau de dor experimentada após 4 h de tratamento e diariamente após 24, 48, 72 e 96 h. Os testes ANOVA a dois critérios para medidas repetidas e teste de Tukey post hoc HSD revelaram que, a cada intervalo de tempo, o grupo I e grupo II foram significativamente mais (p<0,05) eficazes na redução da dor pós-operatória que os grupos III e IV. Além disso, o teste de Dunnett mostrou que o grupo I e grupo II diferiram significativamente com o controle enquanto que a diferença entre o grupo III e controle foi não significativo. Pacientes com necrose pulpar e periodontite apical aguda que receberam curativos de demora de clorexidina e hidróxido de cálcio mais clorexidina apresentaram menos dor do que aqueles que receberam curativo de hidróxido de cálcio ou não receberam qualquer curativo.

Rigidity, retention, and resistance of titanium versus double taper light root canal posts: An in vitro evaluation.

Aim: to evaluate and compare the physical properties of titanium posts and double taper (DT) light posts. Materials and Methods: Sixty posts (30 titanium post and 30 DT light post) were selected and divided into three groups. In Group I: Ten posts of each type were subjected to a three-point bending test. In Group II: 20 posts extracted maxillary central incisors were restored with ten posts of each type and subjected to tensile loading. In Group III: 20 posts extracted maxillary central incisors were restored with ten posts of each type and subjected to compressive loading at an angle of 135°. Results: The results showed that DT light posts were significantly less rigid (P <0.001), more retentive and significantly less resistant to fracture (P <0.001) as compared to titanium posts. Conclusion: It is suggested that although the DT light post system does not completely fulfill the requirements claimed by manufacturer but it would meet the requirements to combat the physiological forces operating in the oral cavity.