Effect of Occlusal Reduction on Alleviating Pain in Symptomatic Apical Periodontitis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate pain relief in response to occlusal reduction in teeth with symptomatic apical periodontitis METHODOLOGY:A randomized controlled trial was done at department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, PIMS Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan 27th May 2019 to 30th May 2020 on 166 patients suffering from irreversible pulpitis with symptomatic apical periodontitis were included in the study. After consent, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to document preoperative pain levels. Pulpectomy was done and patients were randomly divided into Group A (without occlusal reduction) and Group B (with 1-1.5mm occlusal reduction). Mean pain scores of Group A and Group B were compared at 24hrs, 72 hours and seventh day using T-test RESULTS: There was a significant difference in mean pain score (p=0.0001) post-pulpectomy between the teeth with and without occlusal reduction. CONCLUSION: The teeth that underwent occlusal reduction after pulpectomy showed lower mean pain levels compared to the non-reduction group. KEYWORDS: Occlusal reduction, apical periodontitis, irreversible pulpitis, pulpectomy, root canal therapy