Effect of laser assisted local anesthesia in single-visit root canal treatment for mandibular molar teeth with acute irreversible pulpitis

Present study evaluated the efficacy of laser activation to control intra- and post-operative pain in single-visit root treatment for mandibular molar teeth with acute irreversible pulpitis following 2% lignocaine inferior alveolar nerve block. Ninety-eight patients presenting with pain were randomly divided into two anesthetic groups. Group-I inferior alveolar nerve block plus buccal infiltration and intra-ligamentary injections, Group-II inferior alveolar nerve block followed by laser irradiation focused directly on the pulp tissue. Intra- and post-operative pain intensities were assessed on a 10-point scale.The mean intra-operative pain scores in group-I was 6.62 {+/-} 1.6 and in group-II before and after laser irradiation pain scores was 6.94 {+/-} 2.1 and 1.3 {+/-} 2.04, respectively. Post-operative pain scores at 24-hrs in the laser group were significantly higher. Laser irradiation applied directly on pulp tissue for control of intra-operative pain was effective, thereby negating the need for additional local anesthesia. Clinical relevanceLaser activation was effective method to control intra-operative pain in irreversibly inflamed pulp. Laser irradiation did not cause adverse post-operative pain.