Comparative evaluation of the efficacy of two modes of delivery of Piroxicam (Dolonex(®)) for the management of postendodontic pain: A randomized control trial

Background: Alleviating pain is of utmost importance when treating patients with endodontic pain.

Aim: To compare and evaluate the efficacy of two modes of delivery of pretreatment Piroxicam (Dolonex(®), Pfizer) for the management of postendodontic pain.

Materials and methods: Sixty-six patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis were randomly divided into three groups of 22 subjects Group I - control group, no pharmacological intervention, Group II - patients received pretreatment oral Piroxicam (40 mg), Group III - patients received pretreatment intraligamentary injections totaling 0.4 mL of Piroxicam. Single visit endodontic therapy was performed by a single endodontist. Visual analogue scale was used to record pain before treatment and 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 h postoperatively. Mann-Whitney U-test and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to analyze the data.

Results: The patients in Groups II and III perceived less postendodontic pain as compared to Group I (P < 0.05), at all the time intervals. At 12, 24, and 48 h, pain experience in patients of Group III was significantly less.

Conclusions: Intraligamentary mode of delivery of Piroxicam was more efficacious.