Can Pretreatment With Analgesics Reduce Postendodontic Pain?

This randomized controlled trial investigated whether a single dose of diclofenac sodium taken before a root canal procedure can reduce pain in the hours following the treatment. 160 patients with tooth pain from irreversible pulpitis were divided into two groups. One group received 100mg of diclofenac sodium 30 minutes before their procedure, while the other group received no pretreatment. Pain levels were measured at 6, 12, and 24 hours after the procedure. The study found that patients who took diclofenac before treatment were significantly more likely to be pain-free at 6 and 12 hours after the procedure compared to those who did not.