A prospective study by Drs. Adnan Atbaei and Nazanin Mortazavi, published in the Australian Endodontic Journal, evaluated the effect of intraligamentary injection of piroxicam (feldene) in reducing postendodontic pain. Piroxicam is a nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Pain following endodontic treatment is often linked to the inflammatory process as well as additional central mechanisms. The effects of intraligamentary injection of piroxicam have not previously been studied. The study involved 65 patients with irreversible pulpitis; the patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. The active group received intraligamentary injections totaling 0.4 mL of piroxicam, while the placebo group received the same amount of lidocaine. One-appointment 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 hours postoperatively. The decrease in the intensity of post-treatment pain between the 2 groups was very significant. The authors conclude that intraligamentary injection of piroxicam can be considered an effective method for reducing postendodontic pain.
(Source: Australian Endodontic Journal, 2012, Volume 38, Issue 1, pages 31 to 35)
