Postoperative Pain after Single-Versus-Multiple Visit Root Canal Treatment in Teeth with Vital or Non-Vital Pulps in a Turkish Population

Abstract

Postoperative pain is one of the most common complications following Root Canal Treatment (RCT) and visit number has been associated with intensity of pain. This study aims to compare the effect of single and multiple-visit RCT in vital versus non-vital teeth on postoperative pain and determine relationships between postoperative pain and pulp vitality, tooth type and gender in a Turkish population by using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Three hundred teeth were divided into two groups randomly. Group 1 had root canal treated teeth in a single-visit, while Group 2 had teeth that treated in multiple-visits. The RCT procedures were standardized, except the calcium hydroxide medicament used in multiple visit group. Subjects were recalled at 24, 48 and 72 h after obturation to record VAS scores. There was no statistically significant difference between Group 1 and Group 2 regarding the incidence of postoperative pain (p>0.05). Comparison of pain levels regarding pulpal status showed no significant difference between groups (p>0.05). In the light of these findings it can be concluded that, the intensity of postoperative pain after single or multiple visit root canal treatment does not depend on pulpal vitality.