Occlusal Reduction and Postoperative Pain

Evaluation of Postoperative Pain Intensity Following Occlusal Reduction in Teeth Associated With Symptomatic Irreversible Pulpitis and Symptomatic Apical Periodontitis: A Randomized Clinical Study

The purpose of this randomized clinical study was to evaluate the impact of occlusal reduction on the incidences of post-instrumentation and post-obturation pain. Forty four patients were included in this study. Inclusion criteria were posterior mandibular teeth having symptomatic irreversible pulpitis and symptomatic apical periodontitis. Patients were randomized into two equal groups. In the intervention group the functional and nonfunctional cusps were reduced until absence of contact was confirmed, while in the control group the occlusal surfaces were left intact. Standard endodontic treatment was performed in two visits using rotary nickel titanium files for shaping, 2.5% sodium hypochlorite for cleaning and lateral condensation technique with resin sealer for obturation. Pain was assessed preoperatively, then after 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours following instrumentation, then after 6 and 12 hours following obturation. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used as the primary outcome measure. Patients were given a placebo to be administrated in case of severe pain and ibuprofen 400mg was prescribed in case of persistent pain.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Postoperative Pain
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: occlusal reduction

Detailed Description

Recruitment of the study participants was done from the outpatient clinic of the Endodontic Department of the Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine, Cairo University.

Randomization was done to assign participants to the study groups by chance and not choice. 44 numbers were generated and randomly allocated to either intervention or control group on a table using Microsoft Office Excel 2010. Each participant was given a number from 1 to 44 according to his turn in enrollment in the study.

Root canal treatment was completed in two visits. Before treatment, each patient was given pain scale chart and was asked to record their pain level. The tooth was anesthetized using inferior alveolar nerve block technique by local anesthesia of 1.8 - 3.6 ml of 2% Mepivacaine HCl. The access cavity preparation was performed using round carbide bur and Endo-z bur. After access cavity in the intervention group, all occlusal contacts on the functional and non-functional cusps as well as on the marginal ridges were reduced using a wheel diamond bur. Absence of contact was confirmed using an articulating paper. In the control group, all occlusal contacts were left intact. The tooth was then properly isolated with rubber dam. The patency of the root canals was confirmed using stainless steel hand K-files size #10 and #15. Working length was determined using an electronic apex locator and confirmed radiographically to be 1 mm shorter than radiographic apex. Mechanical preparation was done by crown-down technique using rotary Revo-S instruments and Ethylene Diamine Tetra Aceticacid gel as a lubricant. The canals were thoroughly irrigated using 3ml of 2.5% sodium hypochlorite following each instrument. After dryness of the canals using paper points, a cotton pellet was placed in the pulp chamber and the access cavity was sealed with a temporary filling. After 7 days, the root canals were obturated with lateral condensation technique using 0.04 taper gutta-percha and AdSeal resin-based root canal sealer.

Degree of postoperative pain was measured using visual analogue scale (VAS) after 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours after instrumentation then at 6 and 12 hours after obturation. The VAS consists of a 10-cm line anchored by two extremes "No pain" and "pain as bad as could be". The patients were asked to choose the mark that represents their level of pain. Pain level was assigned to one of four categorical scores: 1, None(0); 2,Mild(1-3); 3,Moderate(4-6); 4,Severe(7-10) 10.

In case of moderate to severe postoperative pain, the patients were instructed to take a capsule of placebo given to him/her at the end of each visit. In case of persistent pain, patients were allowed to take Ibuprofen 400mg. The incidence of placebo intake and number of analgesic tablets taken were recorded by the patients.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 44
• Phase: Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 16 years to 48 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• healthy adults of 18-50 years. The diagnosis of symptomatic irreversible pulpitis with symptomatic apical periodontitis in a posterior mandibular tooth was confirmed by history of chief complaint of moderate to severe lingering sharp throbbing pain with pain on biting, clinical examination revealing positive response to an electrical pulp tester and tenderness to percussion on tapping the tooth with the end of a mirror handle, and radiographic examination showing posterior tooth with no apical radiolucency or slight widening of lamina dura.

Exclusion Criteria:

• pregnant women, patients who reported bruxism or clenching, or patients who have administrated analgesics preoperatively during the past 12 hours that might alter their pain perception. Teeth that had no occlusal contact, no sensitivity to percussion, association with swelling or fistulous tract, greater than grade I mobility, or no possible restorability were also excluded.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Occlusal Reduction; performing occlusal reduction on functional cusps until abscence of contact was confirmed	Other: occlusal reduction; relief of occlusion following endodontic treatment; Other Names: occlusal relief
No Intervention: non-occlusal reduction; occlusal surface left intact

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
postinstrumentation pain	postoperative pain was measured using visual analogue scale (VAS) following root canal instrumentation	up to 48 hours following instrumentation
postobturation pain	postoperative pain was measured using visual analogue scale (VAS) following root canal obturation	upto 24 hours following obturation

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
incidence of placebo and analgesic intake	The incidence of placebo intake and number of analgesic tablets taken were recorded by the patients.	up to 48 hours following each visit

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Cairo University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Radwa S Emara, Masters, Cairo University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 1, 2014
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 1, 2015
• Study Completion (Actual): January 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 6, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 12, 2017
• First Posted (Actual): April 17, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 17, 2017
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 12, 2017
• Last Verified: April 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Postoperative Complications; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Pain, Postoperative; Anti-Infective Agents; Dermatologic Agents; Antifungal Agents; Keratolytic Agents; Salicylic Acid
• Other Study ID Numbers: CEBC-CU-2015-15-166

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No
• IPD Plan Description: IPD data are confidential and secured. Only accessed by principal investigator and supervisors

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No