Intracanal use of a corticosteroid-antibiotic compound for the management of posttreatment endodontic pain.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this randomized, double-blind study was to determine the effect of a corticosteroid-antibiotic combination when used as an intracanal medicament for the treatment of posttreatment pain in endodontically involved teeth with vital pulp-test readings.

STUDY

DESIGN

Out of 988 patients, 480 experienced intratreatment pain. Endodontic treatment was completed in 3 visits. Patients who experienced pain after the first or second visit (postextirpation or postinstrumentation) were given an emergency visit during which no local anesthetic was used. The patients randomly received either intracanal corticosteroid-antibiotic compound or a placebo. Patients subjectively rated their pain on a scale of 1 to 4 as none, mild, moderate, and severe. The ratings were done at 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours postmedication.

RESULTS

Intracanal use of the corticosteroid-antibiotic medication significantly reduced (P < .001) the mean pain score quite rapidly and was significantly superior to the placebo until the end of the study (P < .001). Furthermore, there were no reoccurrences of pain, and no side effects from use of the drug were noted.

CONCLUSION

These results support the intracanal use of corticosteroid-antibiotic combination for controlling posttreatment endodontic pain.