Abstract

‘COLD’ CURTAILS THE PAIN IN ENDODONTICS

Balasubramanian Saravanakarthikeyan* and Sekar Mahalaxmi

ABSTRACT

In general, pain is defined as an “unpleasant sensory & emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage”. Tooth pain is one of the most dreaded experiences cited by most people and a significant number of patients report pain whilst visiting the dentist. An earlier population based study reported that 73.4% of patients report pain during dental treatment and this is a major reason for the patient to not visit the doctor for dental treatment.[1] Anticipation and experience of root canal associated pain is a major source of fear for patients and is considered a nightmare for the operator too. Failure of local anaesthesia with primary techniques is not uncommon in endodontic therapy. It has been reported that pulpal anaesthesia fails more common in hot teeth cases (ie. acutely inflamed pulps). Anatomical considerations and abnormal physiological responses in the presence of inflammation are the possible explanations given for the failure of anesthesia, despite a proper administration of the standard anesthetic techniques was adopted.[2] However, every dentist strives hard to render the treatment to their patients with the least discomfort in a more pleasant as well as in a pain free manner. In view of this, we would like to quote few significant research findings pertaining to the establishment of effective anesthesia using therapeutic applications of cold in endodontics.

Keywords: .