Prevalence of and factors affecting post-obturation pain in patients undergoing root canal treatment

This longitudinal, prospective study (1) investigated the prevalence of post-obturation pain after root canal treatment and (2) evaluated the influence of factors affecting the pain experience.

Twenty practitioners, comprising general dental practitioners, MSc graduates and Endodontists, participated in this study. The patient sample (n = 415) was derived from consecutive patients attending the practitioners' surgeries for root canal treatment on a single tooth. Demographic, medical history, preoperative and intra-operative data as well as pain experience on day 1 and day 2 after root canal obturation were recorded. Intensity of pain experienced was recorded on a visual analogue scale (VAS) of 0-5. The data were analysed using logistic regression models.

The prevalence of post-obturation pain within 48 h after treatment was 40.2% (n = 167) but less than 12% of patients experienced severe pain (VAS 4 or 5) on either day 1 or day 2. The factors that significantly influenced post-obturation pain experience were: gender (OR = 0.434, P < 0.001), tooth type (OR = 1.733, P = 0.007), size of periapical lesion (OR = 0.493, P = 0.004), history of post-preparation pain (OR = 4.110, P = <0.001) or generalized swelling (OR = 3.435, P = 0.005) and number of treatment visits (OR = 2.604, P < 0.001).

The prevalence of post-obturation pain was high (40.2%). The important prognostic determinants of post-obturation pain were female, molar tooth, size of periapical lesion smaller than 3 mm, history of post-preparation pain or generalized swelling and single-visit treatment.