Evaluation of Postoperative Pain Intensity Following the Use of Three Different Canal Preparation Systems: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the intensity of postoperative pain after Hand Protaper preparation, Wave One Gold and a HyFlex EDM instrument. Materials and Methods: Thirty patient were randomly divided into three groups. Endodontic treatment was performed for premolar and molar root canals, and they were filled with gutta-percha and an epoxy resin-based root canal sealer using a lateral condensation technique. Teeth were restored using a resin composite material. A single operator performed the treatments in a single visit for asymptomatic molars, and the patients were asked to record their pain severity during a 12, 24, 36, and 72 h follow-up period using a visual analog scale (VAS). One-way ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparison test were used for statistical comparisons. Results: Up to 12 hours, postoperative pain was significantly higher in the group treated by HyFlex EDM (p < 0.01). No differences were seen from 36 hours to 7 days. Conclusion: For all three techniques, higher pain intensity was seen at 12 hours and then the pain steadily decreased. No significant difference was noted in quality of life, suggesting the filling systems or techniques has a similar effect.