Valacyclovir in Pain Management of Acute Apical Abscesses

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · Mar 2, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying the use of a medication called valacyclovir to help manage pain in patients with a condition known as acute apical abscesses, which are painful infections at the tip of a tooth root. The trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of this medication in reducing pain before and after dental procedures, as well as to see how well the infection heals over time. Researchers plan to include 250 patients who are at least 18 years old and in good overall health, with clear evidence of tooth infection and moderate or severe pain.

Participants in the study will undergo dental treatments, including cleaning the infected area and possibly draining any abscess, while their pain levels and healing progress will be closely monitored through special X-ray scans before and after the procedures. It's important to note that certain individuals, such as smokers, pregnant or nursing mothers, and those with specific dental conditions, will not be eligible to participate. If you think you may qualify or are interested in helping researchers learn more about pain management in dental infections, this trial could be a good opportunity.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Patient must be ≥ 18-year-old
• • Patient must be systemically healthy; American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Class I or II
• • Patient must exhibit clinical evidence of pulp necrosis and acute apical abscess
• • Patient must present with radiographic
• • signs of apical disease either by
• • periapical radiography or cone-beam
• • computed tomography
• • Patient consented to receive conventional pulpal debridement, incision and drainage at the end of the study
• • Persistent pain of moderate or higher level (\>4) was the main inclusion criterion. Pain assessed as follows: 0 defined as no pain, 1-3 as mild pain, 4-6 as moderate pain, and 7-10 as severe pain
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Smokers (more than 10 cigarettes per day)
• • External or internal tooth resorption
• • Marginal periodontitis
• • Pregnant or nursing mothers (hormonal factors may influence the periapical condition)
• • Documented allergic or adverse reactions to amoxicillin or valacyclovir
• • Teeth with unusual anatomy or inaccurate clinical diagnosis on the day of treatment (i.e., partially necrotic pulp)
• • Patients currently taking antibiotics or antiviral medications