Impact of Cryotreated and Warm Sodium Hypochlorite on Post-Operative Pain in Teeth with Symptomatic Irreversible Pulpitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to evaluate effect of cryotreated and warm sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) on post-operative pain in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis and symptomatic apical periodontitis. METHODS: Sixty-six individuals with pre-operative pain scores of ≥ 54mm on the Heft Parker Visual Analogue Pain Scale (HP-VAS) diagnosed with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis and symptomatic apical periodontitis as per the AAE guidelines in mandibular molars were included. The preparation of the access, and the root canals were instrumented and irrigated in accordance with a standard protocol. Based on the temperature of the final irrigant, the root canals were then randomly assigned to three groups and 3% NaOCl was irrigated: Control (at 25°C), cold NaOCl (2°C) and warm NaOCl (60°C) (n = 22/group). Root canal treatment was completed at the same visit. Pre- and post-operative pain assessment at 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours was conducted using HP-VAS, and analgesic consumption was noted. Suitable statistical tests were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: In comparison to the other two groups, cold NaOCl group had a lower HP-VAS score at all follow-up intervals. Between groups, there was a statistically significant difference in post-operative pain scores at 6 and 72 hours (p < 0.05). None of the subjects experienced any postoperative discomfort at 72 hours in the control and cold NaOCl group. CONCLUSION: Patients treated with cold NaOCl as the final irrigant experienced significantly lesser post-operative pain at 6 hours when compared to room temperature and warm NaOCl.

Influence of the severity of periodontal disease on the outcome of non-surgical endodontic therapy: A prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of severity of periodontal disease on periapical healing after non-surgical endodontic therapy (NSET). MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this prospective study, subjects (n = 45) requiring NSET in a mandibular molar tooth with the diagnosis of pulp necrosis and asymptomatic apical periodontitis exhibiting radiographic periapical index (PAI) score ≥ 3 and concomitant endodontic periodontal lesion (CEPL) without communication were enrolled. After dividing as per the classification of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases and Conditions, subjects were equally allocated into three groups. Group I- only endodontic lesion {control: healthy periodontium (n = 15)}, Group II- CEPL having stage I and II periodontitis (n = 15) and Group III- CEPL having stage III periodontitis (n = 15). Standardized two-visit NSET was performed with 2% chlorhexidine gel as an intracanal medicament. Periodontal therapy was instituted wherever required. Subjects were recalled at 6-and 12-months for clinical and radiographic assessment. Chi-square test was performed to evaluate the difference between the groups. RESULTS: At 12-month follow-up, all teeth in the three study groups were asymptomatic. On radiographic evaluation of the periapical region, healing was observed in 80%, 47% and 50% of teeth in Groups I, Group II and Group III, respectively. However, the difference was not statistically significant between the groups (p = 0.150). CONCLUSION: The severity of periodontal disease had no influence on periapical healing after NSET in teeth with concomitant endodontic periodontal lesions without communication. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Periodontal disease has significant impact on apical periodontitis however severity of the periodontitis does not negatively impact the apical periodontitis.

Comparison of smear layer removing efficacy of Cold Atmospheric Pressure (CAP) Plasma Jet with different chelating agents. An ex-vivo study.

The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of different final irrigation regimens (Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet, MTAD, and EDTA) in removing the smear layer from intra-radicular dentin using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Eighty-four mandibular premolars were prepared with ProTaper Universal hand files and were equally divided into four groups i.e. Normal saline (control), EDTA, MTAD and CAP Plasma Jet. Prepared samples in the control, EDTA and MTAD groups were irrigated with 5 milliliters of the irrigant, and it was retained for 2 min. In the CAP Plasma Jet group, the plasma plume was directed towards the canal lumen for 2 min. The smear layer removal of all the groups was evaluated at the coronal, middle and apical thirds. Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Dunn's test. Evaluation by SEM showed that the smear layer removal ability of MTAD and EDTA were significantly better than CAP Plasma Jet (p < 0.05). While CAP Plasma Jet showed results comparable to EDTA in the coronal third. In the middle and apical third of the canal, its effect was comparable to the control group (p > 0.05). MTAD and EDTA aided in better smear layer removal than the CAP Plasma Jet in the coronal, middle, and apical third of the test samples. CAP Plasma jet performed better in the coronal third.