Accident with sodium hypochlorite during endodontic therapy

Abstract

Introduction: sodium hypochlorite accidents are one of the complications that may arise during conventional endodontic therapy. In hypochlorite accidents, the irrigant flows into the periapical tissue either during irrigation of root canals or by accidental injection into soft tissue. This situation causes immediate pain symptoms in the patient, with an exacerbated immune response and tissue necrosis. Objective: determine the possible causes of sodium hypochlorite accidents and present the clinical and pharmacological management protocol established for these events. Clinical case: a case is reported of accidental flowing of sodium hypochlorite to the apex of the distovestibular root of tooth 17 in a 67-year-old male patient with controlled hypertension and a diagnosis of healthy pulp requiring preprosthetic endodontic therapy. A description is provided of the clinical and pharmacological actions taken after the sodium hypochlorite accident, as well as the immediate application of corticotherapy, analgesia, pain management by anesthetic block of the compromised area and for dissolution of the sodium hypochlorite, to complete the management scheme with prophylactic antibiotic medication. Conclusions: the following are predisposing factors for the occurrence of a hypochlorite accident: conditions that cause periapical resorption, inadequate choice of the type of syringe and needle to perform the irrigation, and incorrect determination of the root length. Management of these accidents with corticosteroids and analgesia reduces the aggressiveness of symptoms, whereas antibiotic prophylaxis lessens the risk of tissue damage.

Keywords

• hipoclorito de sodio
• irrigación de canales radiculares
• acción farmacológica
• iatrogenia.