Effect of Dexamethasone Intraligament Injection on Post-Endodontic Pain in Patients with Symptomatic Irreversible Pulpitis

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of intraligamentary dexamethasone injection in reducing post-endodontic pain among patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis.

Methodology: A descriptive case series was conducted at the Department of Dentistry, Ibn-e-Siena Hospital, Multan, from October 2023 to April 2024. A total of 155 patients aged 18–65 years, presenting with irreversible pulpitis of less than seven days’ duration, were enrolled using non-probability consecutive sampling. After informed consent, all patients received a pre-operative intraligamentary injection of dexamethasone (0.4 mL) using a pressure syringe following standard anesthesia. Single-visit pulpectomy was performed 30 minutes post-injection by an experienced endodontist. Postoperative pain was assessed at six hours using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Treatment success was defined as VAS < 3. Data were analyzed using SPSS v23, and chi-square test was applied to assess associations; p < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: Of the 155 patients, 72 (46.5%) were male and 83 (53.5%) were female, with a mean age of 38.6 ± 10.4 years. Successful pain control was achieved in 109 (70.3%) patients, while 46 (29.7%) experienced persistent pain (VAS ? 3). No statistically significant association was observed between treatment success and gender (p = 0.404), laterality (p = 0.928), or tooth location (p = 0.411).

Conclusion: Preoperative intraligamentary injection of dexamethasone significantly reduced post-endodontic pain in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis, with a success rate of 70%. Incorporating this approach into routine endodontic practice can enhance patient comfort and improve clinical outcomes.