Effect of Root Canal Treatment (Versus no Treatment) for Patients With Tooth Infections and Toothaches

Effect on Initial Endodontic Treatment on Postoperative Pain in Symptomatic Teeth With Pulpal Necrosis

The purpose of this study is to evaluate patients with emergency pain and a sore (infected) tooth to determine if immediate root canal therapy is better at reducing pain, when compared to initial treatment with antibiotic and pain medication followed by root canal therapy. Each participant will be randomly assigned a number, which will determine if they will receive initial endodontic treatment that day or at a later date. Each participant will receive an anesthetic injection, pain medication and a prescription for an antibiotic. They will be asked to keep a diary to record their pain level after the injection and their pain levels and the amount and type of pain medication taken each day for the next 5 days. Participants who did not receive root canal therapy at the initial appointment will receive it after the 5 day postoperative period. The pain levels and medication use will be compared between the treatment and nontreatment groups.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 years or older
• in good health (ASA classification I or II)
• able to give informed consent
• infected tooth with toothache (symptomatic tooth with pulpal necrosis)

Exclusion Criteria:

• allergy to ibuprofen, acetaminophen or codeine
• history of significant medical problems (ASA classification III or greater)
• angioedema or bronchospastic reactivity to aspirin or other NSAIDs
• pregnant or lactating
• inability to give informed consent