ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this clinical trial was to assess whether controlled irrigation with three different irrigation regimens with different temperature would result in reduction of post-endodontic pain after one-visit root canal treatment (RCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 240 (129 females and 111 male) aged 18 - 65 years were referred and integrated in this clinical trial, All patients presented with a vital maxillary or mandibular molar, premolar or front teeth designated for conventional root canal treatment for prosthetic reasons detected with only vital pulps. All canals were cleaned and shaped with Reciproc instruments, and were used with a micro motor (VDW, Munich Germany). Final irrigation was done with cold (4°C, 2.5°C, and room temperature) 17% EDTA and 10 mL of cold saline solution. RESULTS: A total of 240 of 279 patients (129 females and 111 male) aged 18 - 65 years were referred and integrated in this clinical trial, whereas 29 were rejected as not completing the requirements needed. All patients presented with a vital maxillary or mandibular molar, premolar, or front teeth designated for intentional endodontic RCT for prosthetic reasons. No statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) among the groups was found regarding degree or duration of pain. There was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) among the 4oC and 2.5oC groups. CONCLUSION: The approach in both selecting the patients participating in the study and analyzing the data in this randomized clinical trial allows us to conclude that cryotherapy is an aid of clinical procedures to clean and shape the canals to reduce the occurrence of postendodontic pain and the need for medication in patients presenting with a diagnosis of vital pulp.