Comparative evaluation of interappointment flare-ups in diabetic and nondiabetic patients

Abstract

Aims: This study aims to compare the incidence of interappointment flare-up during endodontic treatment in diabetics and nondiabetics patients using calcium hydroxide and chlorhexidine gel as intracanal medicament. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 patients requiring root canal treatment were chosen. 30 known diabetic patients with fasting blood sugar (FBS) = 100–120 mg/dl were in Group 1 while others non-diabetic patients with FBS ≤ 100 mg/dl were placed in Group 2. After initiation of endodontic procedures and biomechanical preparation, 15 patients were chosen randomly to place calcium hydroxide paste or chlorhexidine gel, as intracanal medicament in both groups. The pain was recorded on day 1, 2, 3, 7, and 14 posttreatment using verbal rating scale. Result: A total of 10 of 60 patients developed interappointment flare-up, of which 5 (16.6%) were diabetics, and 2 (6%) were nondiabetic patients. The results comparing the interappointment flare-ups between the groups were statistically nonsignificant (P - 0.2179). Conclusions: Although the incidence of interappointment flare-up in diabetic patients is approximately twice than that seen in nondiabetic patients, these results are nonsignificant. This indicates that interappointment flare-ups in diabetic patients with good glycemic control are essentially similar to healthy individual with no metabolic diseases.