Incidence and Factors Influencing Post Operative Pain following Root Canal Treatment in Vital Teeth: A Clinical Trial

AIM OF THE STUDY: Pain is the major source of fear for dental patients and an important concern for dentists. This prospective study aims to determine the incidence & the influence of factors affecting the post operative pain in vital teeth in patients receiving root canal treatment. METHODOLOGY: Three hundred and thirty three patients who underwent root canal treatment in vital teeth were assessed in this study. The root canal procedure was completed in a visit. A questionnaire assessed the factors like age, gender, tooth location, pre operative pain, main masticatory tooth and mishaps. The patients were asked to grade the pain postoperatively after 24 hrs, 48 hrs, 7 days and two weeks using a likert scale 0-4 point scale. RESULTS: Chi square tests was used to stastistically analyze the variables contributing to post obturation pain. Results showed that post obturation pain incidence was at 32.6%. CONCLUSIONS: Post operative pain incidence was at moderate levels, the pre operative factors play a significant role in the incidence of post endodontic pain. Intra operative factors also had a imperative role to play in the association with post operative pain after root canal treatment. IMPLICATIONS: Root canal treatment is perhaps one among the most advocated dental treatment modalities of recent age. Prevention & management of postoperative pain is an integral part of endodontic treatment, the knowledge of the various factors leading to it plays a imperative role in its prevention.