Effect of Different Apical Actions on Local Inflammatory Mediators and Pain

Study Protocol

This study will include patients aged 18-49 years who present to the İzmir Katip Çelebi University, Department of Endodontics, requiring root canal treatment for vital, lesion-free mandibular first and second molars. Patients with systemic diseases will be excluded. The study will involve 66 patients. The sample size was calculated according to the effect size of 0,25 recommended by Cohen (1988).

Pre-Treatment Assessment:

• Patients will be asked about spontaneous pain and percussion pain related to the affected tooth prior to the session.
• These pain levels will be recorded using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).

Group Allocation:

• After rubber dam isolation and access cavity preparation, patients will be randomly assigned to one of four groups using a four-sided die.
• Each group will consist of 22 patients and will undergo root canal shaping using an endomotor with one of the following techniques:

1. Continuous Rotation
2. Apical Reverse
3. Apical Slow-Down

Questionnaire:

Patients will be given a pen and will be asked to mark the current and percussion-provoked pain of the related tooth by a numbered linear Visual Analog Scale (VAS) before treatment on Day 0 and Day 3.

Root Canal Shaping:

1. Working Length Determination: Establish the working length and create a glide path using a #10 K-file.
2. Instrumentation Sequence: Enlarge the canals sequentially using rotary files of sizes 15.04, 20.04, 25.06, 30.06, and 35.06.
3. Irrigation: Use 2 ml of 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) for irrigation after each file change.

Sample Collection (First Session):

• After completing the first session:
• Rinse the canals with distilled water.
• Remove remaining liquid with #45 paper points.
• Insert sterile #20.02 paper points into the canals and leave them for 30 seconds to collect periapical exudates.
• Collect three samples per canal. Cut the apical 5 mm of the paper points and place them in 1.5 ml Eppendorf tubes for storage at -80°C.
• The canals will then be rinsed again with 2.5% NaOCl. Patients will be dismissed without using intra-canal medication and instructed to return for the filling session after three days. Patients will be advised to take 800 mg ibuprofen if they experience pain. The medication use will be documented.

Second Session:

• The questionnaire will be held again with the VAS scores and percussion sensivity.
• After local anesthesia the intermediate restorative material is removed and root canal irrigation with distilled water.
• Working length is confirmed again with a file. Collect three additional samples per canal using #20.02 paper points as in the first session.
• Proceed to finalize the root canal treatment.

Final Root Canal Treatment:

1. Perform the final irrigation using 2.5% sodium hypochlorite and 17% EDTA.
2. Fit gutta-percha cones. 35.06 cone or fitting .02 tapered cones will be selected as the master cone according to the anatomy and fit.
3. Fill the canals using a resin-based root canal sealer with lateral condensation utilizing #25 spreader and accessory #20.02 gutta-percha cones.
4. After cutting the excess gutta-percha, clean the cavity and complete the treatment with composite resin restoration.

Sample Handling:

• All collected samples will be stored in a -80°C freezer for biochemical analysis. The analysis will be based on ELISA tests which will investigate the Substance P, IL-1ß, TNF alpha and IL-6 on Day 0 and Day 3.

Post-Treatment:

• The occlusion will be checked using articulation paper, and adjustments will be made if primary contact is present to ensure no traumatic occlusion.

This standardized protocol ensures consistent data collection and optimal treatment outcomes for all participants.