The Effects of Calcium Silicate-and Calcium Hydroxide-based Root Canal Sealers on Postoperative Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to compare the postoperative pain level changes resulting from using calcium silicate-(EndoSeal MTA) and calcium hydroxide-based (Sealapex) root canal sealers in mandibular first and second molar teeth with symptomatic apical periodontitis. Methods: A total of 60 patients with symptomatic apical periodontitis in their lower molar teeth were randomly allocated into 2 groups according to sealer type (n = 30). Demographic data, including gender, age, and smoking habit, and preoperative pain measures were recorded. Root canal treatments were performed in a single visit. Postoperative pain measurements and analgesic intake were measured at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours and after 3, 5, and 7 days using the visual analog scale. The data were statistically analyzed using a chi -squared test (to compare gender, age, smoking habit, analgesic intake, and sealer extrusion), the Mann-Whitney U test (to compare pain levels), Friedman tests (for the evaluations of the reduction in pain levels over time), and Spearman's correlation test (to analyze the relation-ships of age, gender, smoking habit factors with postoperative pain) (P = .05). Results: The statistical analysis showed no significant differences between the groups in postoperative pain and analgesic intake at any of the time intervals evaluated (P . .05). Conclusions: Patients treated with calcium silicate- and calcium hydroxide-based root canal sealers experienced similar postoperative pain and no statistically significant differences were observed in anal-gesic intake. (J Endod 2023;49:1588-1594.)