Steroid as an Intracanal Medicament: An Advanced Review

Post-endodontic treatment pain is a major problem in dentistry. Around 80% of patients who present with preoperative pain due to endodontic treatment continue to experience the pain of some level following endodontic therapy. This pain, mostly linked to chronic inflammation, is due to bacterial toxins that signal the ingress of immune cells followed by the activation of various cytokines and inflammatory mediators. Countless classes of drugs have been studied to resolve this challenge. Glucocorticoids have been in use for more than fifty years owing to their potent antiinflammatory effects. This paper aims to review the pharmacology and mechanism of actions of steroids as an intracanal medicament considering the indications, contraindications, and side effects.