AzTrials
AzTrials

Endodontic TreatmentPhase 4(DTPE-RCT)NCT06906315

Dexamethasone Treatment for Patients Undergoing Endodontics

A Phase 4 study testing Dexamethasone 4 mg and Ibuprofen group in people with Endodontic Treatment and Pulp Necrosis, run by University of Salamanca at 1 site in Spain.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

This Phase IV randomized clinical trial (RCT) evaluated the efficacy of preoperative administration of a single 4 mg oral dose of dexamethasone in reducing postoperative pain and inflammation following endodontic treatment. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 20 to 50 years
What is being tested?
Dexamethasone 4 mg and Ibuprofen group
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
82 participants
Where
1 siteSpain
Study dates
4 Nov 2024to 31 Jan 2025
Phase
Phase 4
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 20 to 50 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Participants must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible for the study:
  • Age Range: 20 to 50 years old.
  • Indication for Endodontic Treatment: Patients requiring root canal therapy due to irreversible pulpitis (with or without apical lesion), pulp necrosis, retreatment with periapical lesion, or endodontic surgery.
  • Eligible Teeth: Any dental group (anterior, premolar, molar, both maxillary and mandibular).
  • General Health Status: Classified as ASA I (healthy individuals without systemic conditions) according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status Classification.
  • Consent: Willingness to participate in the study and ability to provide signed informed consent.

Who cannot join

  • Participants will be excluded if any of the following conditions apply:
  • Age: Under 20 or over 50 years old.
  • Medical Conditions:
  • Immunocompromised individuals (e.g., HIV/AIDS, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy).
  • Systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, acute psychosis, glaucoma, cataracts.
  • Patients with tuberculosis or systemic fungal infections. Gastrointestinal conditions such as ulcerative colitis, peptic ulcers, or diverticulitis.
Show all 10Show fewer
  • -Medication Use: Use of NSAIDs or corticosteroids within 48 hours prior to the intervention. Regular use of barbiturates.
  • -Dental Factors: Tooth fractures involving the roots. Severe dental hypersensitivity that may interfere with pain assessment.
  • -Pregnancy and Lactation: Pregnant or breastfeeding women will be excluded due to potential effects of dexamethasone.
  • -Non-Compliance: Patients who decline participation or are unwilling to follow study procedures, including pain assessment and follow-up.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Spain1 site
  • University of Salamanca

    Salamanca, Salamanca, 37008

Other trials in Spain

About this study

Official title: Therapeutic Management of Dexamethasone in Patients Undergoing Endodontics: Randomized Clinical Trial

This Phase IV randomized clinical trial (RCT) evaluated the efficacy of preoperative administration of a single 4 mg oral dose of dexamethasone in reducing postoperative pain and inflammation following endodontic treatment. Conducted at the Department of Endodontics, PhD Program, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Salamanca, the study included 82 participants who were randomly assigned to either the test group (preoperative dexamethasone) or the control group (postoperative ibuprofen 400 mg every 4 hours).

Pain intensity was measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively. Results indicated significantly lower pain perception in the dexamethasone group compared to the ibuprofen group at all time points, with the majority of dexamethasone-treated patients reporting only mild pain. No adverse effects were observed in either group, and no patient required additional rescue analgesia.

Read more

The findings suggest that a single preoperative dose of dexamethasone is a safe and effective strategy for managing postoperative pain in endodontic procedures, providing superior analgesia compared to the standard postoperative ibuprofen regimen.

Keywords: Endodontic pain, dexamethasone, preoperative analgesia, randomized clinical trial, inflammation control, corticosteroids, endodontics.

Read the detailed description

Background and Rationale:

Endodontic treatment is a standard dental procedure aimed at preserving teeth with irreversible pulp damage or infection. A common complication following such procedures is postoperative pain and inflammation, typically managed with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen. However, corticosteroids like dexamethasone, known for their potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, may offer an alternative approach.

Dexamethasone is a long-acting glucocorticoid that inhibits phospholipase A2, thereby reducing the production of prostaglandins and leukotrienes-key mediators in the inflammatory cascade. This mechanism potentially prevents peripheral sensitization and hyperalgesia, which are central to post-endodontic pain. While dexamethasone has shown efficacy in oral surgery, its use as a preoperative analgesic in endodontics remains under-investigated.

Study Objectives:

The primary objective is to evaluate whether a single 4 mg oral dose of dexamethasone administered preoperatively reduces postoperative pain following endodontic treatment. Secondary objectives include assessing the need for rescue analgesia and monitoring for adverse effects.

Study Design:

This is a Phase IV randomized clinical trial using a parallel assignment model with a 1:1 allocation ratio. The study was conducted at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Salamanca.

Participants and Randomization:

A total of 82 adult patients (aged 20-50) requiring endodontic intervention were enrolled. Participants were randomized into two groups:

Dexamethasone Group (Experimental): Received 4 mg dexamethasone orally 1 hour prior to the procedure.

Ibuprofen Group (Active Comparator): Received no preoperative medication but were prescribed 400 mg ibuprofen every 4 hours postoperatively.

Blinding:

The study was single-blind; participants were unaware of their group allocation.

Intervention:

All patients underwent standardized endodontic treatment involving local anesthesia, rubber dam isolation, mechanical root canal instrumentation using rotary systems, and irrigation with sodium hypochlorite. Root canal obturation followed standard protocols using gutta-percha and resin-based sealers.

Outcome Assessment:

Pain intensity will be measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively. Secondary outcomes include the number of participants requiring rescue analgesia and any adverse effects reported during the first 24 hours.

Statistical Analysis:

Data will be analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. The normality of continuous variables will be assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Pain intensity scores will be compared using ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc tests for multiple comparisons. A p-value < 0.05 will be considered statistically significant

Being tested
Dexamethasone 4 mg, Ibuprofen group
Keywords
Endodontic Pain Management, Dexamethasone, Postoperative Pain, Corticosteroids in Endodontics, Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Medical subject headings
Dental Pulp Necrosis, Pain, Postoperative

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Dexamethasone 4 mgDrug

    Participants in this group received a single 4 mg oral dose of dexamethasone 1 hour before undergoing endodontic treatment. No additional preoperative analgesics were administered. Standard endodontic procedures, including local anesthesia, were performed. Post-treatment, no routine analgesic medication was provided unless additional pain relief was required. Pain intensity was assessed at 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) to evaluate the efficacy of preoperative dexamethasone in controlling postoperative pain and inflammation.

  • Ibuprofen groupDrug

    Participants in this group received no preoperative medication but were prescribed 400 mg of ibuprofen every 4 hours postoperatively for pain management. The same standard endodontic procedures were performed. Pain levels were recorded at 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours using the VAS scale to compare the effectiveness of postoperative ibuprofen with preoperative dexamethasone.

Study groups in NCT06906315
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Dexamethasone GroupExperimentalParticipants in this group received a single 4 mg oral dose of dexamethasone 1 hour before undergoing endodontic treatment. No additional preoperative analgesics were administered. Standard endodontic procedures, including local anesthesia, were performed. Post-treatment, no routine analgesic medication was provided unless additional pain relief was required. Pain intensity was assessed at 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) to evaluate the efficacy of preoperative dexamethasone in controlling postoperative pain and inflammation. Arm 2
Receives: Drug: Dexamethasone 4 mg
Ibuprofen GroupActive comparatorParticipants in this group received no preoperative medication but were prescribed 400 mg of ibuprofen every 4 hours postoperatively for pain management. The same standard endodontic procedures were performed. Pain levels were recorded at 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours using the VAS scale to compare the effectiveness of postoperative ibuprofen with preoperative dexamethasone.
Receives: Drug: Ibuprofen group

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Postoperative Pain Intensity (Visual Analog Scale Score)

    Description: Pain intensity will be measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a 10-centimeter horizontal line where 0 indicates "no pain" and 10 indicates "worst imaginable pain." Participants will mark their perceived pain levels at each time point to assess postoperative discomfort following endodontic treatment.

    Scale Range: 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain)

    Interpretation: Higher scores indicate a worse outcome (greater pain intensity).

    Measured: 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours post-endodontic treatment

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. Need for Rescue Analgesia

    Description: The number of participants requiring additional pain medication (rescue analgesia) beyond the assigned intervention will be recorded. This measure will help evaluate whether preoperative dexamethasone can reduce the necessity for additional analgesics compared to standard ibuprofen therapy.

    Measured: 24 hours post-endodontic treatment

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted2 Apr 2025
  2. Study start4 Nov 2024
  3. Primary completion27 Dec 2024
  4. Study completion31 Jan 2025

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
This study follows a parallel assignment interventional model, where participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: Dexamethasone Group: Received a single 4 mg oral dose of dexamethasone 1 hour before endodontic treatment. Ibuprofen Group: Received no preoperative medication but took 400 mg of ibuprofen every 4 hours postoperatively for pain management. Both groups underwent the same standardized endodontic procedure, ensuring that the only variable was the pain management intervention. This was a single-blind study where participants were blinded to treatment allocation. Randomization was performed in a 1:1 ratio using simple randomization. The primary outcome was postoperative pain intensity, measured using the VAS scale at 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours. Secondary outcomes included rescue analgesia use and adverse effects.
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Participant
Enrolment
82 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06906315
Sponsor's protocol ID
U1111-1320-4208
Other IDs
2025_01/345
Acronym
(DTPE-RCT)
Status last verified
Mar 2025
First submitted
16 Mar 2025
Last updated
4 Apr 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: The study does not plan to share individual participant data (IPD) due to patient confidentiality and ethical considerations. Only aggregated, anonymized data will be presented in publications and reports.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 4 study testing Dexamethasone 4 mg and Ibuprofen group in people with Endodontic Treatment and Pulp Necrosis, run by University of Salamanca at 1 site in Spain.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 10 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Apr 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Spain. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Postoperative Pain Intensity (Visual Analog Scale Score) (time frame: 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours post-endodontic treatment). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 Apr 2025.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in