Comparison of Single Antibiotic Paste Nitrofurantoin and Calcium Hydroxide Paste as Intracanal Medicaments in Alleviating Post-Operative Pain in Patients with Symptomatic Irreversible Pulpitis -A Randomized Controlled Trial

Aims: This study aims to compare the efficacy in alleviating pain between intracanal medicaments, namely Nitrofurantoin and Calcium Hydroxide Paste.

Study Design: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Place and Duration of Study: Sample: Department of Operative Dentistry, Sir Syed College of Medical Sciences, Pakistan, between January 2021 and May 2021.

Methodology: 60 patients were randomly divided into 3 groups, each group having 20 patients as following: Group 1: Nitrofurantoin, Group 2: Calcium Hydroxide and Group 3: Control. Preoperative pain was recorded using a numerical pain scale. After access preparation, chemomechanical preparation was performed with subsequent placement of intracanal medicaments. Pre-operative pain score was initially recorded, followed by post-operative pain at 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours, respectively. Root canal treatment was performed in single rooted teeth with patients suffering from symptomatic irreversible pulpitis

Results: Majority of the patients in all 3 groups were initially presented with moderate to severe pre-operative pain. After 72 hours post-operatively, 50% patients in Group 1 reported no pain, while 5% patients in both Group 2 and 3 had no pain. Pain significantly subsided in Group 1 as compared to Group 2 and 3. Regarding age and gender, both had no significant relationship with the pain scores in all of the 3 groups

Conclusion: Nitrofurantoin has been proven to be an effective intracanal medicament in alleviating immediate post-operative pain in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis as compared to calcium hydroxide. While the control group with no intracanal medicament showed little reduction in pain scores. So, nitrofurantoin can be used as a substitute to currently available standard intracanal medicaments.