Abstract
Introduction
Inflammation can lead to hyperalgesia and allodynia by activation or sensitization
of peripheral and central nervous system neurons. This study aimed to assess the occurrence
of secondary thermal hyperalgesia in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis
(SIP).
Methods
The cold sensitivity test (visual analog scale) was performed for the tooth with SIP,
its adjacent sound tooth, the same sound tooth in the opposite jaw, and the contralateral
sound tooth in the opposite quadrant of the same jaw. Next, the tooth with SIP underwent
root canal treatment, and 3 weeks later, after complete elimination of pain, the teeth
underwent cold sensitivity testing again.
Results
A total of 64 patients, including 41 women and 23 men 18–65 years old, were evaluated
in this study. The response to the cold sensitivity test significantly decreased in
the tooth with SIP (P < .001), its adjacent sound tooth (P < .001), and the same sound tooth in the opposite jaw (P = .004) but not in the contralateral sound tooth in the opposite quadrant of the
same jaw (P = .45) after endodontic treatment. No significant difference was noted between men
and women in the groups (P > .05).
Conclusions
Hypersensitivity to cold test due to pulpal inflammation can also result in exaggerated
response of the adjacent sound tooth and the same tooth in the opposite jaw to cold
sensitivity test; these observations can be explained by the central and peripheral
sensitization mechanisms.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 26, 2021
Accepted:
February 18,
2021
Received in revised form:
February 11,
2021
Received:
May 17,
2020
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 American Association of Endodontists.
