CLINICAL ARTICLES Single-visit Endodontics: A Clinical Study

The concept of doing total endodontic treatment of a tooth in a single visit is not new. However, most accepted techniques in current use stress multi-visit procedures. As a result, schools concentrate upon teaching a multi-visit concept, leaving most dental students with an impression that is carried over into practice; namely, that this is the only acceptable treatment modality. Many clinicians have predetermined ideas concerning single-visit endodontics (1). These range from anticipation of more "f lareups" postoperatively to the practice of limiting treatment to single-rooted teeth with mechanically exposed vital pulps. Other variations in treatment include artificial fistulation, immediate apicoectomy, and the filling of root canals with special filling materials claimed to contain unusual physical or chemical properties. Unfortunately, most of the current "dogma" originated from clinical impressions rather than clinical documentation and therefore is suspect. The objectives of this clinical research project were: (a) to investigate and compare postoperative sequelae (i.e. pain/swelling) following single-visit endodontics and multi-visit endodontic procedures and (b) to compare the healing response following single-visit versus multi-visit procedures.