Assessment of postoperative pain following single versus multiple-visit root canal treatment: A randomised clinical trial

Postoperative pain following root canal procedures remains a significant clinical challenge, with on-going controversy regarding optimal single- versus multiple-visit treatment regimens for mandibular molars with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. This study compared postoperative pain, flare-ups and analgesic consumption between single-visit (n=60) and multiple-visit (n=60) root canal therapies using standardized rotary instrumentation and warm vertical obturation in 120 matched patients. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) measurements revealed similar pain trends across both groups, peaking at 6-12 hours postoperatively with no significant differences in pain scores at any interval. Both approaches showed comparable rates of flare-ups, swelling and analgesic intake, demonstrating equivalent safety profiles and clinical outcomes. These findings advance endodontic practice by validating single-visit root canal therapy as a time-efficient alternative that maintains comparable postoperative pain control and complication rates to multiple-visit protocols.