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Effect of Intracanal Medicaments on Post-Operative Pain in Symptomatic Apical Periodontitis: An RCT

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Periodontal Diseases
Interventions
Drug: Calcium Hydroxide (20%)
Drug: Chlorhexidine Gel (2%)
Registration Number
NCT07123792
Lead Sponsor
HITEC-Institute of Medical Sciences
Brief Summary

Comparison of different intracanal medicaments during root canal treatment to assess their effect on post-operative pain in teeth with Symptomatic Apical Periodontitis

Detailed Description

Pain is the most common clinical symptom associated with endodontic treatment. Symptomatic apical periodontitis (SAP) results in significant post-operative discomfort due to microbial invasion and inflammatory changes in periapical tissues. Intracanal medicaments are used to reduce microbial load and inflammation between treatment appointments, potentially reducing post-treatment pain. This study investigates the comparative effectiveness of three commonly used intracanal medicaments in reducing pain following biomechanical preparation:

Group 1: Calcium hydroxide (CH)

Group 2: Chlorhexidine gel (CHX 2%)

Group 3: Modified Triple Antibiotic Paste (TAP) - a combination of ciprofloxacin, clindamycin, and metronidazole in 1:1:1 ratio

A total of 480 participants with single-rooted teeth diagnosed with symptomatic apical periodontitis will be randomly assigned into three groups (160 in each group). Endodontic treatment will be performed by a single operator under standard protocols. No systemic analgesics or antibiotics will be prescribed. Pain assessment will be done using the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (0-10), and recorded at baseline (0 h), 6 h, 24 h, and 48 h after treatment.

The study aims to provide evidence on the most effective intracanal medicament to minimize post-operative pain, improving patient outcomes and guiding clinical decision-making.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
480
Inclusion Criteria
  • Single rooted teeth (Anterior or posterior)
  • Teeth with acute symptomatic apical periodontitis
Exclusion Criteria
  • Non-restorable teeth, presence of endo-perio lesions, teeth with acute or chronic apical abcess, teeth with internal/external root resorption
  • Teeth with anatomical difficulties like open apices, calcified canals, dilacerations
  • Patients with parafunctional habits
  • Patients who were allergic to medications that were used in the study
  • Patients who were taking medicines that could influence pain perception
  • Patients that had any serious medical illness or with systemic disorders

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Calcium Hydroxide groupCalcium Hydroxide (20%)Participants in this group will receive 20% calcium hydroxide paste as the intracanal medicament after root canal instrumentation. The medicament will be placed using a Lentulo spiral, excess removed from the chamber, and the tooth sealed with glass ionomer cement. Pain will be assessed at 0, 6, 24, and 48 hours postoperatively.
Chlorhexidine groupChlorhexidine Gel (2%)Participants in this group will receive 2% chlorhexidine gel as the intracanal medicament following canal preparation. It will be placed with a Lentulo spiral and sealed in the same manner. Postoperative pain will be evaluated at the same intervals.
Modified triple antibiotic pasteModified Triple Antibiotic PasteParticipants in this group will receive a modified triple antibiotic paste made from ciprofloxacin, metronidazole, and clindamycin in a 1:1:1 ratio by weight. The paste will be placed inside the canal using a Lentulo spiral and sealed as per protocol. Pain will be recorded at 0, 6, 24, and 48 hours post-treatment.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Post-operative Pain Intensity Measured Using the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (WFPRS)At baseline (0 hours), 6 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours post-operatively

Pain intensity will be assessed using the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (WFPRS), a validated 6-point facial expression scale. The scale ranges from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain), with corresponding facial images used to help patients subjectively rate their pain. This tool will be used during follow-up calls to determine the patient's level of pain after root canal instrumentation and medicament placement.

Units of Measurement:

Score range: 0-10 (intervals of 2)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Dental hospial, Hitec-IMS

🇵🇰

Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan

Dental hospial, Hitec-IMS
🇵🇰Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan

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