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Abstract

Background: Post-operative pain following root canal therapy presents a common clinical concern, particularly in patients with symptomatic apical periodontitis. Although various interventions, such as occlusal reduction, have been proposed to alleviate discomfort, their effectiveness remains inconclusive.
Objective: To assess the impact of occlusal reduction on post-operative pain intensity in patients with symptomatic apical periodontitis after the initiation of root canal therapy.
Methodology: This randomized controlled trial enrolled 60 patients aged 18 years and older, randomly assigned via the lottery method into two groups: occlusal reduction (OR) and no occlusal reduction (NOR). In the OR group, a 2 mm reduction of the occlusal surface was performed following canal cleaning and shaping. The NOR group underwent the same endodontic procedures without occlusal adjustment. Pain intensity was measured 24 hours post-treatment using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Pearson’s chi-square test was applied to examine the relationship between patient characteristics and pain relief.
Results: Among the 60 participants (36.7% males, 63.3% females), pain relief was reported in 73.3% of the OR group and 63.3% of the NOR group. The difference in pain relief between the two groups was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Additionally, no significant associations were found between pain relief and variables such as gender, age, or clinical condition.
Conclusion: Occlusal reduction did not produce a statistically significant difference in post-operative pain relief compared to no occlusal reduction in patients with symptomatic apical periodontitis. These findings suggest that occlusal reduction may not be essential in managing post-operative discomfort following initial root canal therapy.
Keywords: Apical Periodontitis, Occlusal Adjustment, Pain, Postoperative, Root Canal Therapy.