Mehwish Munawwar, Muhammad Badar Munir, Mustafa Sajid.
Comparison of Step-Down Versus Step-Back Hand Preparation Technique of Root Canals.
Ann Abbasi Shaheed Hosp Karachi Med Dent Coll Jan ;24(1):45-50.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the frequency of flare-up in terms of post-operative pain and/or swelling, after step down and step back root canal preparation technique. Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted from 28th October 2011 to 27th April 2012 in de`Montmorency College of Dentistry, Lahore.150 patients with irreversible pulpitis were randomly allotted in two equal groups (Group A and B) and root canals were prepared with step-down andstepback technique respectively. Pain was recorded using visual analogue scale on 1st, 7th and 14th post-operative day. Data was analysed using SPSS version 17.0. Results: In Group A, 67 patients had no flare-up and 8 patients had flare-up on 14th postoperative day. In Group B, 57 patients had no flare-up and 18 patients had flare-up on 14th postoperative day. Out of 150 patients 26 (17.33%) showed flare-up and 124 (82.66%) showed no flare-up. The overall flare-up in Group A was 10.6% and in Group B was 24% after 14 days. Conclusions: Step-down technique is better for root canal preparation as evaluated by the comparison of flare-up by step-down and step-back techniques.

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