Tooth pain showdown: can saving the nerve beat root canal?

NCT ID NCT07549620

Ongoing Symptom relief Sponsor: Ain Shams University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study compares two treatments for severe tooth pain: vital pulp therapy, which tries to save the tooth's nerve, and standard root canal treatment, which removes it. Researchers will measure pain after 24 hours and one week, and check healing at 6 and 12 months using AI to read X-rays. The 34 participants all have deep cavities and tooth pain but no visible infection on X-ray.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Vital pulp therapy (a dental procedure to preserve the tooth's nerve) and root canal treatment (a dental procedure to remove the nerve)
What this could lead to: If vital pulp therapy works well, it could offer a less invasive option for treating tooth pain while keeping the tooth alive.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early study with only 34 people, so results may not apply to everyone. Vital pulp therapy might not control pain or infection as well as root canal treatment.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

acute apical periodontitis Pain, Postoperative periapical periodontitis pulpitis

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

SYMPTOMATIC IRREVERSIBLE PULPITIS

Contacts and locations

Locations

Ain Shams University

Cairo, Cairo Governorate, 00202, Egypt

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