Correlation of postoperative pain in vital versus nonvital teeth: A clinical prospective study

Abstract

Introduction: The success of root canal treatment is now above 97%. Today keeping pace with this rapidly evolving field in dentistry now single visit endodontics has become more of a compulsion rather than an option. However, to embrace this change, a scientific rationale along with clinician's and patient's acceptance is mandatory. The present study compares the postoperative pain in endodontically treated teeth in vital versus nonvital teeth.Materials and Methods: Sixty patients between the age 16 and 60 years requiring root canal treatment of maxillary and mandibular single rooted teeth were selected. After access opening under rubber dam based on bleeding or absence of bleeding from the canals, three groups were divided Group I – 20 teeth were grouped as vital which showed bleeding from the canal, Group II – 20 teeth were grouped as nonvital which showed no bleeding from the canal but absence of periapical radiolucency, and Group III – 20 teeth were grouped as nonvital with periapical radiolucency. Single-visit endodontic was completed for all the teeth. Patients were asked to report about pain intensity on 1st day, 2nd day, 1st week, and 2nd week based on the scores from 0 to 3 with increasing intensity. The values were recorded and subjected to Pearson Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test.Results: Out of 60 patients, eight patients had dropped out and 52 patients reported after 2nd week. Incidence of pain was calculated for each group at the end of 1st day, 2nd day, 1st week, and 2nd week using Chi-square test. Intragroup and intergroup comparison was carried out, and it was found to be statistically insignificant (P > 0.01).Conclusion: The results of the present study favor single-visit endodontics in vital, nonvital teeth with and without periapical radiolucency. There was no significant difference in postendodontic pain in any of the groups which suggest that single-visit endodontics with stringent clinical protocol can be used in most of the teeth needing endodontic intervention.