Abstract

Aim: To compare the effect of cryotherapy versus ibuprofen medication or normal saline regarding postoperative pain in mandibular molars with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis in a randomized clinical trial.
Methodology: Thirty-six subjects were divided into three groups by random allocation. Access and chemomechanical preparation till size 30-35/.04 using M PRO gold rotary files were done. Group (A) received (20ml) normal saline irrigation at room temperature, group (B) received postoperative ibuprofen medication (400mg) immediately after root canal treatment, and group (C) received (20ml) intracanal cryotherapy irrigation at 2.5°C for 5 minutes. Obturation was performed using modified lateral condensation technique. Pain was recorded pre- and postoperatively at 6, 24, and 48 hours using modified visual analogue scale. Statistical analysis was performed. Significance level was set at (p≤ 0.05).
Results: Group C showed significantly lower postoperative pain (33.3%-median 0) compared to group B (83.4%-median 1.5) and group A (100%-median 3) at 6 hours, meanwhile, group B pain scores were significantly lower than group A (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between groups B and C at 24 and 48 hours (p>0.05) while both being significantly lower than group A. There was no significant difference between groups regarding analgesic intake (p>0.05).
Conclusion: Using either of intracanal cryotherapy as a final irrigant or 400mg ibuprofen post-operative medication proved to be significantly effective in decreasing postoperative pain severity and the need for rescue medication.