ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to compare levels of postoperative pain after cleaning and shaping of root canals using three different root canal irrigants for debridement. Sixty patients with irreversible pulpitis and acute apical periodontitis requiring root canal treatment were included. They were divided into three study groups. Canals were cleaned and shaped with one of the following protocols. In group 1, 17% EDTA was used as the root canal irrigant. In group II, canals were irrigated with 2% Chlorhexidine. In group III, 5.25% sodium hypochlorite was used as root canal irrigant. Access cavities were closed with a sterile cotton pellet and Cavit. The patients recorded degree of pain at various tune intervals afterconclusion of the first appointment on a visual analogue scale for 72 hours. A significant statistical difference was found in the degree of pain between the three groups [p = 0.0001]