Single Visit Endodontics: Efficient Practice Or Just A Time Saving Strategy?

Abstract

This meta analysis review evaluated healing rates and post-obturation pain after single-visit versus multiple-visit root canal treatments of infected teeth. A literature search identified relevant randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials comparing these two treatment modalities. Ten randomized controlled trials fulfilled the inclusion criteria, where six studies assessed healing rates and five assessed the prevalence of post-obturation pain. The results did not reveal any statistical difference in the healing rates between the single visit and the multiple visit groups. Both treatments were effective in promoting healing for infected teeth, but single-visit patients showed a lower rate of short-term post-obturation pain compared with multiple-visit patients, which might suggest that sealing of the root canal over one visit lowers the exposure to irritants or infection contributing to the discomfort. Single visit treatments will therefore be in favor of root canal treatment given that they offer the benefit of lesser short-term pain while providing comparative healing results to that of multiple visits treatment.