The Effect of Calcium Hydroxide, Triple Antibiotic Paste and Chlorhexidine on Pain in Teeth with Symptomatic Apical Periodontitis: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Background: One of the main reasons for post endodontic pain is the polymicrobial intracanal flora that may survive the initial disinfection. A single antimicrobial agent might not provide adequate disinfection, and an antimicrobial combination such as triple antibiotic paste was tested to achieve this goal. Aim: The study aimed to assess the efficacy of three intra-canal medicaments on post root canal preparation pain. Materials and Methods: Eighty patients with single-rooted necrotic teeth and symptomatic apical periodontitis were randomly assigned to four treatment groups ( n = 20). Their preoperative pain was recorded on Wong-Baker’s FACES pain rating scale. After chemo-mechanical canal preparation, intracanal medications were applied to the groups (Group 1 (20% calcium hydroxide), Group 2 (2% chlorhexidine), Group 3 (tri-antibiotic paste), Group 4 (no medication (Control group)). Patients were instructed to record pain on the Wong-Baker FACES pain rating scale at 4, 48, 72 and 96 hrs, postoperatively. Pain scores were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA test and Tukey’s post hoc test and, if significant, Dunn’s test was used for pair-wise comparisons. The significance level was set at a p -value ≤ 0.05. Results: Tukey’s post hoc test revealed significantly lower pain scores in Group 3 compared with other groups at all follow up intervals. Dunnett’s test showed significantly lower pain in Group 3 compared with the Control group at 48, 72 and 96 hrs, postoperatively. Conclusions: Triple-antibiotic paste showed effective pain control as an intracanal medication on necrotic teeth with symptomatic apical periodontitis.