Comparison of Postoperative Sensitivity in Posterior Teeth Using Conventional and Bulk Fill Composites

Abstract

Objective: To compare and assess post-operative pain and sensitivity at 24 hours and 1 month in Class I restorations done with bulk-fill composite and conventional incremental layering technique. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial (NCT06852586). Place and Duration of Study: Operative Dentistry Department, Dental Section, 28 Military Dental Centre, Lahore Pakistan, from Aug to Nov 2022. Methodology: A total of 70 patients requiring Class I composite restorations in molars were randomly assigned into two groups: Group-1 (bulk-fill composite) and Group-2 (incremental composite technique), with 35 patients each. Pain and sensitivity were assessed postoperatively at 24 hours and 1 month using a 0–10 numerical rating scale. Data were processed with SPSS version 20. Frequencies and percentages were determined for qualitative variables, whereas medians and interquartile ranges (IQR) were expressed for pain scores. Shapiro-Wilk test was employed in order to check data normality, and Mann-Whitney U test was applied for comparison between groups. A p-value of <0.05 was regarded as significant. Results: At 24 hours, 46.83% of patients had no pain in Group-1 versus 70.89% at 1 month. The median score for pain at 24 hours was decreased in Group-1 [Median = 0 (IQR = 2)] versus Group 2 [Median = 1.5 (IQR = 4)], although this did not reach statistical significance (p=0.121). At 1 month, the median was 0 (IQR 1) in both groups with no statistical difference (p=0.633). Conclusion: Both incremental and bulk-fill composite methods revealed similar results in terms of post-operative sensitivity and pain, and no differences were noted.