Occlusal reduction is one possible technique to reduce postoperative pain in patients suffering from irreversible pulpitis and tenderness to percussion. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of this procedure

Patients with irreversible pulpitis and mild tenderness to percussion without moderate-to-severe spontaneous pain underwent standardized root canal treatment (RoCT) performed by a single operator. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups of 27 each, the occlusal reduction (OR) group and the no occlusal reduction (NOR) group. A visual analogue pain scale (VAS) was used to evaluate pain levels before treatment and at 6,12,18, 24 hours, and then daily for 6 days after treatment.  Ibuprofen (600 mg 6hrly) was used as analgesia as required by patients.

• Of the 54 patients there were 2 drop outs in the OR group and 6 on the NOR group
• The pain levels in both groups significantly decreased after root canal treatment but there was no significant difference between the 2 groups.

The authors concluded

Occlusal surface reduction did not provide any further reduction in postoperative pain for teeth with irreversible pulpitis and mild tenderness to percussion compared with no occlusal reduction.

Comment

This is a relatively small trial and no power calculation is presented.  The drop out rate is higher in the NOR group (22.2%) compared with the OR group (7.4%). A previous study (Rosenburg et al  1998) , noted by the authors suggested a benefit from occlusal reduction.

Links

Parirokh M, Rekabi  AR, Ashouri R,  Nakhaee, N MD, Abbott PV, Gorjestani H. Effect of Occlusal Reduction on Postoperative Pain in Teeth with Irreversible Pulpitis and Mild Tenderness to Percussion . J of Endod.  Article in press, available online 28 Sept. 2012

Rosenberg PA, Babick PJ, Schertzer L, Leung A. The effect of occlusal reduction on pain after endodontic instrumentation. J Endod. 1998 Jul;24(7):492-6. PubMed PMID: 9693578.