Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this randomized clinical study was to investigate the influence of occlusal surface reduction on postendodontic pain. METHODOLOGY: Sixty patients were included with a diagnosis of acute irreversible pulpitis and acute apical periodontitis and divided randomly into two groups. In the intervention group, occlusal surfaces were reduced and left intact in the control group. Postoperative pain was evaluated at the 6(th), 12(th), 24(th), and 48(th) h after the root canal instrumentation and 6(th) and 12(th) h following obturation using visual analog scale. Data were evaluated using the Chi-square test, t-test, Friedman test, Mann-Whitney U-test, and Wilcoxon rank test. RESULTS: Postoperative pain levels in both groups were reduced significantly over the time period evaluated, however, between the two groups, there was no difference evident. CONCLUSION: Occlusal surface reduction did not influence the pain following root canal instrumentation and obturation.