Evaluation of post-obturation pain in single-visit endodontic treatment after pre-medication with oral anti-inflammatory and antibiotics

Purpose: The objective of the study was to evaluate post-obturation pain on the 1st, 3rd, and 7th days on single-visit endodontic treatment after taking antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs.
Methods: Permanent molars were managed with single-visit root canal treatment after pre-medication in 80 patients. Patients were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 20); Group-1; amoxicillin (500 mg) + clavulanic acid (125 mg), Group-2; aceclofenac (100 mg) + paracetamol (325 mg); Group-3; anti-inflammatory and antibiotics; and Group-4; without pre-medication. Medications were administered 1 h before treatment. Patients filled a visual analog scale form to rate their pain at 1st, 3rd, and 7th days. Kruskal–Wallis test was used to obtain mean rank and the level of significance was set at 0.05.
Results: The mean rank on the 1st and 3rd post-operative days for each group, was; Group-1, 51.78 and 55.70, Group-2, 32.60 and 29.95, Group-3, 17.65 and 19.25, and Group-4, 59.98 and 57.10, respectively. Mean rank value was least in the Group-3, followed by Group-2, Group-1 and Group-4. No statistically significant difference in the mean rank was found on the 7th day.
Conclusion: Pre-medication with antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drugs was the most effective in reducing post-operative pain followed by anti-inflammatory alone and least when antibiotic was given.