Abstract
This report discusses 2 cases of endodontically treated teeth in which intractable pain persisted after root canal treatment. As the treatment of choice, root canal preparation was repeated as far as the apical constriction of each tooth, under local anesthesia. This treatment was followed by disappearance of pain.
Patients: Case 1: A 32-year-old woman with no improvement of pain even after undergoing root canal treatment of right mandibular 1st molar tooth, in another dental clinic 2 years ago. R test of Endodontic Meter revealed presence of residual pulp tissue of this endodontically treated tooth. The pain was disappeared by a diagnostic anesthesia.
Case 2: A 58-year-old man was referred to our hospital from a general practitioner for root canal treatment.
Left maxillary 2nd molar had been root filled. However, there was continuous postoperative pain. When gutta percha was removed from this tooth, residual pulp tissue was found in the apical area and the pain disappeared by a diagnostic anesthesia.
Discussion: The above-mentioned cases suggest that correct measurement of working length and removal of residual pulp are necessary in the differential diagnosis of intractable pain.
Conclusion: It is important that the root canal treatment of the intractable pain set surely the working length.
