Effect of intracanal cryotherapy on pain after single-visit root canal treatment

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of 2.5°C cold saline irrigation as final irrigant on postoperative pain after single-visit root canal treatment of teeth with vital pulps. One-hundred and seventy patients were assessed as eligible and included to the study. The teeth were randomly divided into two groups (n = 85) (i.e. the control group and the cryotherapy group). In the cryotherapy group, final irrigation with 2.5°C 0.9% physiological saline solution for 5 min was performed following completion of biomechanical preparation, whereas in control group same solution stored at the root temperature was used. Treatments were performed in a single visit. Participants were asked to rate the intensity of their postoperative pain using visual analogue scale at 24 and 48 h. Data were analysed by Mann-Whitney U test and Student's t test. In the cryotherapy group level of reported postoperative pain was significantly lower than the control group (P < 0.05, Mann-Whitney U test). The outcome of this investigation indicates that 2.5°C cold saline irrigation as final irrigant can result a significant reduction in postoperative pain levels in comparison to the control group. Cryotherapy is a simple, cost-effective, and non-toxic option for postoperative pain control in single visit root canal treatment.

Intracanal Cryotherapy Reduces Postoperative Pain in Teeth with Symptomatic Apical Periodontitis: A Randomized Multicenter Clinical Trial

“…Two studies so far have used intracanal therapy to evaluate its effect on postoperative pain in patients with both symptomatic and asymptomatic, irreversible pulpitis with either normal apical tissues or symptomatic apical periodontitis. Both studies showed significant lower postoperative pain levels when cryotherapy was applied compared with control groups (24,25). In the present study, only patients presenting uniradicular teeth with a single canal and a diagnosis of necrotic pulp and symptomatic apical periodontitis were included.…”

Influence of anti‐inflammatory irrigant on substance P expression for single‐visit root canal treatment of teeth with irreversible pulpitis

“…As mentioned earlier, the role played by irrigant solutions on post‐operative pain is inconclusive . However, there are studies which point to a reduction in post‐operative pain by using different strengths and types of irrigating solutions . To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there are no studies evaluating the use of NSAIDs as root canal irrigating solutions and their efficacy in single‐visit root canal treatment for teeth with irreversible pulpitis.…”

“…The role of irrigating solutions employed during root canal treatment to help control post‐operative pain is unclear . While certain studies have observed a reduction in post‐operative pain with particular types and concentrations of irrigating solutions, other studies have reported no difference in post‐operative pain with the different irrigating solutions .…”

What's new for the clinician - excerpts from and summaries of recently published papers (September 2018)

“…These periapical injuries often lead to periapical inflammation known as flare-ups. 1 Several strategies have been developed for postoperative pain management including prescribing prophylactic analgesics and corticosteroids, administering long-lasting anaesthesia, root canal preparation using the crown-down technique and occlusal reduction. 1 Cryotherapy is a long-standing technique that has been frequently applied in sports injuries and surgical procedures for pain management and postoperative care.…”

“…Türktekin and colleagues (2018) 1 reported on a randomized clinical trial that sought to compare diamond burs and curettes in non-surgical periodontal treatment of chronic periodontitis patients.…”