Postoperative pain after endodontic treatment of mandibular molars with two different instrumentation techniques: A randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND: This study compared postoperative pain after endodontic treatment of mandibular molars with asymptomatic irreversible pulpitis with the RaCe rotary system and the crown-down versus the step-down technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this randomized clinical trial, 70 mandibular 1(st) and 2(nd) molars with asymptomatic irreversible pulpitis and normal periradicular state were randomly assigned to two groups for single-visit endodontic treatment with RaCe rotary system and the crown-down and the step-down technique (n = 35). Postoperative pain was assessed at 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 168 h postoperatively, using a Visual Analog Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS 17 by repeated measures ANOVA, Chi-square test, independent sample t-test, and lLeast sSignificant Ddifference test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The two groups were not significantly different regarding the pain scores at any time point (P > 0.05). Within-group comparisons showed a significant reduction in pain score over time, starting from 12 to 168 h, postoperatively (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The crown-down and step-down techniques had no significant difference regarding postoperative pain after endodontic treatment of mandibular molars with asymptomatic irreversible pulpitis with the RaCe rotary system.