Interappointment Flare-up in Endodontics: A Case Report and an Overview

A problem that an endodontist can encounter during the course of root canal treatment is pain and swelling or both in the form of flare-ups. The causes for this flare-up are numerous which include mechanical, chemical, microbial injury to the pulp or periradicular tissues, whereby an acute periradicular inflammation results. This situation can be prevented by selection of instrumentation technique, that extrude lesser amount of debris apically, completion of biomechanical preparation in a single sitting, use of antimicrobial intracanal medicament between appointment in the treatment of infected cases with an appropriate coronal temporary restoration and maintaining asepsis throughout the root canal treatment. The flare-up phenomena are complex and not well-understood which involves a number of hypotheses for its etiology. A correct diagnosis and treatment aids in the resolution of the flare-up. This case report explains the management of an interappointment flare-up, with an overview of flare-ups.