Postoperative Pain Intensity After Using Different Instrumentation Techniques: a Randomized Clinical Study

Overall, 90 patients who had asymptomatic and non-vital teeth associated with periapical lesions, were included to the study. All diagnosis and treatment procedures were performed by a single operator to eliminate or minimize individual variability in the treatment between clinicians. The patients were randomly stratified into 3 groups of 30 by coin toss. Allocation was done by a person other than the operator performing the root canal procedure. The patients were assigned into three equal groups according to instrumentation techniques used (n=30);

• The modified step-back technique (n=30): The canals were instrumented with a modified step-back technique using stainless-steel hand files (HF, Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland). The canals were prepared to a master apical size 02/40 with K files by using the balance force technique. Step back technique was performed by using K-files #45-55 to a master apical size 02/40 with K files. The step back technique was performed using K-files #45-55.
• Reciprocal technique (n=30): The canals were instrumented with a driven reciprocation motion, using WaveOne (WO, Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland) file having a size 40 and a taper of 0.06 slow in-and-out pecking motion according to the manufacturer's instructions. The flutes of the instrument were cleaned after 3 pecks.
• Rotational technique (n=30): The canals were instrumented using ProTaper Next (PTN, Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland) 06/40 file in the sequence X1, X2, X3, X4 at a rotational speed of 300 rpm and 200 g/cm torque according to the manufacturer's instructions. The instruments were used up to the working length.

After isolation and access cavity preparation, the initial working length was then determined with an electronic root canal measurement device (Root ZX mini; J. Morita, Tokyo, Japan). It was confirmed using periapical radiographs. During the instrumentation, a total of 10 ml of 5% NaOCl were used for irrigation. The irrigation needle (NaviTip 31ga needle; Ultradent, South Jordan, UT, USA) was placed as deep as possible into the canal without resistance until it was 1 mm short of the predetermined WL.The final irrigation was performed with 5% NaOCl, 17% EDTA, and 2% chlorhexidine.

The root canals were obturated with gutta-percha and a resin based sealer (AH26, De Trey Dentsply, Konstanz, Germany) using cold lateral compaction technique. A standardized master cone size #40.02 gutta-percha was fitted with tug back at the working length. The gutta-percha cone was lightly coated with sealer and slowly inserted into the canal. Cold lateral compaction with accessory gutta-percha cones size 15 was performed until these could not be introduced more than 5 mm into the root canal. All canals were shaped, cleaned, and obturated in a single-visit.

Although no systemic medication was prescribed, the patients were instructed to take mild analgesics (400 mg of ibuprofen), if they experienced pain. The assessment of postoperative pain was carried out at 12, 24, and 48 hours after initial appointment by one independent clinician blinded to the groups. All the participants were called by blinded operator through phone at 12, 24 and 48 h to obtain the pain scores using a 4-point pain intensity scale (Dalton Orstavik et al. 1998). The presence or absence of pain, or the appropriate degree of pain was recorded by using a 4-point pain intensity scale. The pain categories were as follows:

1. no pain;
2. slight pain (mild discomfort, need no treatment);
3. moderate pain (pain relieved by analgesics);
4. severe pain (pain and/or swelling not relieved by simple analgesics and required unscheduled visit).