Clinical Research Directory

Identification of Possible Trigeminal Neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a severe type of non-dental orofacial pain that can feel like sudden electric shocks in the face and is often mistaken for tooth pain or other dental problems. This can lead to delays in referral and unnecessary, sometimes irreversible, dental treatment. The goal of this observational study is to evaluate how well a new questionnaire (IDentification of possible Trigeminal Neuralgia - IDTN) identifies adults with possible trigeminal neuralgia among patients attending hospital clinics with orofacial pain, with the aim of supporting its use in dental and general medical practice to improve early recognition and referral. The main questions it aims to answer are: * How accurately does the IDTN questionnaire identify patients with possible trigeminal neuralgia compared with the specialist clinical diagnosis? * Which combination of questionnaire items best supports a practical screening score for use in dental and/or general medical practice? Participants will: 1. Complete the IDTN questionnaire before their clinical appointment (either electronically or on paper) 2. Undergo their usual specialist clinical assessment, during which the final diagnosis will be recorded 3. Allow the research team to compare questionnaire responses with the specialist diagnosis (the reference standard) A subset of participants will also be asked to complete the questionnaire again a few days later to assess test-retest reliability.

Effect of Play Dough, Slime, and Plush Toys on Dental Anxiety and Pain in Children During Dental Treatment

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of tactile distraction materials, including play dough, slime, and plush toys, on dental anxiety, pain perception, and physiological stress responses in children undergoing dental treatment. Ninety children aged 6-10 years receiving restorative dental treatment under local anesthesia were randomly assigned to one of four groups: play dough, slime, plush toy, or control group without distraction. Dental anxiety and pain levels were assessed using validated psychometric scales, while physiological stress responses were evaluated through heart rate monitoring and salivary cortisol measurements. The study seeks to determine whether simple non-pharmacological distraction techniques can improve behavioral cooperation and reduce anxiety and pain perception during pediatric dental procedures. Findings may contribute to the development of child-friendly dental management strategies and enhance the quality of pediatric dental care.

A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating Whether Pre-operative Trinase Reduces Post-operative Pain in Patients With Symptomatic Irreversible Pulpitis Compared to Placebo, Using VAS Scores and Analgesic Intake Over 48 Hours.

This study aims to determine whether Trinase, an enzyme-based anti-inflammatory medication, can reduce pain after root canal treatment in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. A total of 182 male patients aged 18 to 50 years who present with moderate to severe tooth pain will be randomly assigned to receive either a Trinase tablet or a placebo 30 minutes before treatment. All root canal procedures will be performed in a single visit using standard endodontic techniques. Pain levels will be measured on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) before treatment and at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after treatment. Patients will also record the number of pain-relief tablets they take during the first 48 hours. The goal of the study is to see whether Trinase can lower post-operative pain and reduce the need for analgesic medication compared with placebo. This information may help improve pain management for patients undergoing root canal therapy.

Anesthetic Effectiveness of Lidocaine Versus Articaine in Dentistry

Context: Lidocaine and articaine are two of the most commonly used local anesthetics in dentistry. Lidocaine has often been the anesthetic of choice in clinical practice, but in clinical experience, articaine has proven to be more effective in controlling pain during dental procedures. (Camps-Font, O. et al. 2020). There are still unanswered questions, such as which of the two local anesthetics is more effective in reducing pain? This could lead us to discuss which one to choose to reduce costs in the dental office. Objective: The objective of this project is to determine and compare the effectiveness of lidocaine and articaine in clinical contexts such as tooth extraction with infiltrative techniques, seeking to provide answers that will optimize the choice of anesthetic based on the patient and the procedure, thus improving pain management and reducing costs in the dental office. Design: Randomized double-blind experimental study, parallel groups. The control group received 2% lidocaine, and the experimental group received 4% articaine. The study will be conducted in accordance with the guidelines of the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT 2010). The probabilistic sampling technique is through simple randomization. The 100 patients who meet the inclusion criteria will be randomly assigned to the control and experimental groups in a 1:1 ratio. Expected results: articaine shows a lower percentage of extractions with anesthetic reinforcement and, therefore, a lower average number of additional tubes.

Intraligamentary vs Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block for Pulpitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial

This multicenter randomized trial compares the clinical effectiveness of intraligamentary injection versus inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis in mandibular molars. The goal is to determine which technique provides better pain control during endodontic treatment.

Photobiomodulation and Tooth Analgesia

The purpose of this study is to test photobiomodulation (PBM) with a non-invasive light device for reducing discomfort during dental treatments in children. We plan to conduct a series of three clinical studies in 200 school-aged children requiring routine dental treatment. The first study aims to test if PBM works for tooth and soft tissue by assessing response to cold testing and probing of gums. The second study aims to test if use of PBM on soft tissues before injection reduces discomfort. The third study aims to test if PBM can be used to do simple dental fillings in baby teeth without numbing injection.

A Combination of Ibuprofen With Curcumin Covered With Liquorice Root Supplementation in the Management of Postoperative Dental Pain in Adults

Dental pain, a common issue in stomatology, requires a multifaceted treatment approach. This study explores the efficacy of combining Ibuprofen with curcumin and liquorice root supplements for managing postoperative dental pain. Curcumin, known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, along with liquorice root, may enhance pain relief beyond conventional NSAIDs like Ibuprofen. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial aims to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of this combination therapy in adults undergoing the removal of impacted third molars. Participants, aged 18-85, were divided into groups receiving different doses of Ibuprofen and curcumin with liquorice root, compared to a control group receiving Ibuprofen and placebo. The primary outcome is the sum of pain intensity differences over 8 hours, with secondary outcomes including total pain relief and the occurrence of any adverse events. The anticipated sample size, considering a 20% dropout rate, is 264 participants, ensuring the study is powered to detect significant differences in pain management efficacy.

Exploration of the Utility of Dental-dedicated MRI for Dentistry

This description observational research is comparative in design, that is comparing existing standard clinical dental images, not obtained in this study, to test (i.e., ddMRI) images. The standard clinical dental images consist of radiographs, such as bitewings, periapical, panoramic, cone-beam CT, and medical CT, as well medical MRIs of the temporomandibular joints (TMJ).The conceptualization of research questions, study designing, and interpretation of imaging data has and will involve content expertise in all ddMRI research.

Dental Block for Pain Relief in ED Dental Pain Patients

This will be a prospective, observational cohort study assessing immediate pain relief from dental block in ED patients presenting with dental pain. The study will be conducted in the Community Regional Medical Center ED. The aim of this study, then, is to prospectively determine if dental block provides minimal clinically important difference in pain relief to these patients.

Meloxicam Versus Ibuprofen for Pain Control After Third Molar Exodontia in Adult Patients

Third molar extraction is a common dental procedure, offently related with pain and swelling. The purpose of this study is to evaluate if Meloxicam has a better effect relieving pain after the extraction than Ibuprofen, one of the most common pain relieving drugs administered after this procedure.