Incidence of postoperative pain after single- and multiple-visit endodontic procedures.

A series of 359 endodontic cases were followed and evaluated by the frequency of reported postoperative pain. A statistical analysis of the data obtained attempted to identify a relationship between pain experienced and the anatomic location, the pulpal vitality as determined by hemorrhage, or the number of treatment visits used in completing the case. Data obtained indicated no relationship between pain experience and pulpal vitality, no statistically significant relationship to the anatomic location, and a significant relationship to the number of visits used. The data indicate a 2 to 1 higher frequency of pain reported following treatment completed in multiple visits as compared to that reported for those completed in one visit.