Comparison of Postoperative Pain After the Utilization of Different File Systems in Single Visit Endodontics

This prospective single-blind, parallel-group, randomized clinical trial was aimed to compare the effect of three different rotary instrumentation systems ProTaper Next (PTN), Self-Adjusting File (SAF) and XP-endo Shaper (XPS) on postoperative pain and analgesic intakes.

A total of 159 molars diagnosed with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis were randomly divided into three study groups according to the instrumentation techniques: PTN (n = 54), SAF (n = 52), and XPS (n = 53). The preoperative pain scores were taken before the onset of treatment in the groups. After a single appointment for root canal treatment, the patients were asked to rate the level of their pain according to the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) of 100 mm at 6, 24, 48, and 72-hour post-treatment intervals. Ibuprofen was prescribed to be taken while experiencing pain; patients were requested to note the number of pills consumed at intervals after treatment.

The patients in SAF and XPS groups had lower mean VAS scores than the PTN group at 24-, 48-, and 72-hour intervals (p < 0.05). The most common analgesic intake was optimally seen in the PTN group at a 6-hour interval. All shaping procedures caused postoperative pain, whose intensity decreased with time.

The SAF and XPS groups had a lesser intensity of pain as well as minimum analgesic intakes as compared to the PTN group. All instrumentation systems moderately caused pain, and the PTN group experienced the highest pain among others.