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Effectiveness of mineral trioxide aggregate on postoperative pain in non-surgical endodontic treatment: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Evidence-Based Dentistry (2024)Cite this article

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Abstract

Introduction

Postoperative endodontic pain can negatively influence the quality of life of the patients. Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) has gained attention as a potential medicament in various endodontic procedures. MTA has been shown to have desirable properties such as biocompatibility, marginal adaptation, and sealing ability compared to other materials. Limited evidence is available about the effectiveness of MTA on the reduction of postoperative pain following endodontic treatment. This article aimed to compare the non-surgical post-endodontic pain-relieving effect of MTA compared with other materials.

Methods

Indexed databases (PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, OVID, Scopus, and Cochrane) were independently searched for relevant manuscripts published up to and until June 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with a focus on teeth with pulp pathologies, with or without radiolucency, requiring primary endodontic treatment were included. Risk of bias across individual studies was performed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool for interventions.

Results

Out of the initial 169 articles searched, 9 RCTs met the selection criteria. The protocols were like all the studies, but the pain rating scales, filling material, and restoration materials varied. Out of the 9 included studies, in 4 studies MTA significantly reduced postoperative pain levels, 5 studies showed no difference between MTA and other materials, whereas 1 study reported an adverse effect of grey discoloration after MTA.

Conclusion

The findings of the present review indicate that MTA may reduce postoperative pain following non-surgical endodontic treatment. However, future standardized studies should be conducted to validate the results.

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Data availability

All data is reported in the present review.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Orofacial Pain and TMJ Disorders, Eastman Institute for Oral Health, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA

    Maryam Altuhafy, Vikranth Ravipati, Ravleen Nagi & Junad Khan

  2. Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Eastman Institute for Oral Health, University of Rochester, New York, NY, USA

    Luay Jabr

  3. Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA

    Zegar Zegar

Authors
  1. Maryam Altuhafy
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  2. Vikranth Ravipati
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  3. Ravleen Nagi
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  4. Luay Jabr
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  5. Zegar Zegar
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  6. Junad Khan
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Contributions

JK and MA: conceptualization, methodology, data extraction, analysis, writing, editing, supervision. JK, MA, VR, RN, LJ, and ZZ: conceptualization, data extraction, analysis, editing, writing. Correspondence and queries can be addressed to JK.

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Correspondence to Junad Khan.

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Altuhafy, M., Ravipati, V., Nagi, R. et al. Effectiveness of mineral trioxide aggregate on postoperative pain in non-surgical endodontic treatment: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Evid Based Dent (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41432-024-00996-7

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