AUSTRALIAN ENDODONTIC JOURNAL, 2025 (SCI-Expanded)
To compare the truss endodontic cavity (TREC) design against the traditional conservative endodontic cavity (TEC) design in terms of intracanal bacteria removal and the impact on postoperative pain. A randomised controlled trial was conducted involving 100 patients, who were assigned to either the TEC group or the TREC group. Bacteriological samples from the root canals were collected both pre- and post-chemo-mechanical preparation. The total bacterial counts were determined by using qPCR and the postoperative pain intensity was measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS). To analyse bacterial load and postoperative pain levels within groups, the Wilcoxon and Friedman tests were utilised, respectively. The TEC group achieved a 96% reduction in bacterial counts, whereas the TREC group exhibited a 92% reduction, with this difference being statistically significant. These findings highlight the importance of cavity design in endodontic procedures and its potential implications for clinical practice.