Vol. 11, Issue 3, Part F (2025)

Postoperative endodontic pain remains a frequent challenge and a major determinant of patient satisfaction. Its multifactorial etiology involves microbial persistence, periapical inflammation, and central and peripheral sensitization. Conventional pain management strategies include pharmacological measures such as analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and intracanal medicaments, along with non-pharmacological approaches like cryotherapy, low-level laser therapy, and occlusal reduction. In addition, endodontic techniques such as rotary crown-down instrumentation have demonstrated value in minimizing apical debris extrusion and reducing postoperative discomfort. Although these modalities may alleviate symptoms, none are universally effective. Inadequate pain control can disrupt patients’ daily lives, interfere with sleep, eating, and work performance, and contribute to heightened dental anxiety, thereby affecting treatment compliance and overall quality of life. Neuromodulation techniques, particularly transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), have shown promising results in chronic pain conditions by modulating cortical excitability and altering pain perception networks. These findings suggest that tDCS could be adapted into dental practice to not only reduce pain but also improve patients’ psychological well-being, functional recovery, and confidence in dental care.