Endodontics · single question
During root canal therapy, a patient reports a burning sensation. The MOST likely cause is:
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Irrigant extrusion beyond the apex (sodium hypochlorite accident)
- A. Inadequate anesthesia would cause sharp pain during instrumentation, not specifically burning.
- B. Correct. Burning sensation during RCT is a classic symptom of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) extrusion beyond the apex into periapical tissues. NaOCl is tissue-destructive and causes immediate burning pain, rapid swelling, and hemorrhage if extruded into periapical or surrounding tissues.
- C. File separation is an intracanal event; it may cause procedural complications but not burning.
- D. Residual pulp tissue causes difficulty with canal negotiation and bleeding, not burning sensation.