Comparison of the Efficacy of the Dexamethasone Infiltration Injection and Cold Saline Irrigation on Postoperative Pain in Patients with Symptomatic Irreversible Pulpitis: A Prospective Clinical Study

Authors

  • Hassan Maqbool Consultant Endodontist & Restorative Dentist, Dr. Jan & Associates, Peshawar, Pakistan
  • Khadija Sajid FCPS-II Resident, Department of Operative Dentistry & Endodontics, Islamic International Dental Hospital, Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan
  • Ghina Rizwan House Officer, Department of Operative Dentistry, Islamic International Dental Hospital, Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan
  • Zarnab Rizwan House Officer, Department of Operative Dentistry, Islamic International Dental Hospital, Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan
  • Zehra Ali Consultant Endodontist, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Madiha Batool Consultant Operative Dentist and Endodontist, Department of Dentistry, Margalla Hospital, Taxila, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33897/fujd.v3i2.321

Keywords:

Dexamethasone, Infiltration, Irrigation, Pulpitis

Abstract

Objective: Root canal treatment and pulp therapy produce more acute and repeated postoperative discomfort, according to previous research studies. For pain control, several treatments have been approved, including the use of cold saline and dexamethasone before, during, and after an endodontic procedure. This study aimed to compare the clinical efficacy of dexamethasone infiltration injection and cold saline irrigation on postoperative pain in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis.

Materials and Methods: A total of 100 patients who presented to a private dental clinic in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have placed in two separate groups i.e., Group A, the dexamethasone infiltration group (n=50) and Group B, the cold saline group (n=50). The root canal treatment was performed in two sittings. The first appointment consisted of cleaning and shaping the canals with the postoperative use of dexamethasone infiltration injection in one group and cold saline in the other. After 24 hours, patients were recalled and their pain was reported using a visual analogue scale (VAS).

Results: For Group A, 15 (30%) patients felt no post-operative pain, 17 (34%) faced mild pain, 13 (26%) reported moderate pain and 5 (10%) faced severe pain. Whereas in Group B, 12 (24%) out of 50 patients felt no pain, 21 (42%) had mild pain, 13 (26%) reported moderate pain and 4 (8%) complained of severe pain. However, no statistically significant difference was found in the level of pain between the irrigants used (p=0.915).

Conclusion: Slight difference exists in postoperative pain-controlling efficacy between 2 groups. But that is not significant according to the results. Cold saline irrigation being a new technique is highly effective as compared to Dexamethasone injection. Therefore, its use is recommended in controlling post-operative pain.

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Published

2023-07-24

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 2 (2023): Foundation University Journal of Dentistry, 2023, Vol. 3, No. 2

Section

Original Articles

License

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