Introduction
The first case of Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was reported in December 2019 from China. Within 3 months, it had affected more than 170 countries around the globe and countries worldwide have imposed lockdown to limit the spread of COVID-19.1 All elective surgeries and routine dental procedures were also suspended and only emergency cases were being treated by dentists across the globe .As a result of this, some necessary measures need to be followed in patients of very severe pain with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis without dental visit for temporary pain management until further appropriate treatment can be provided.2, 3 To address the need in ongoing phase of lockdown, the dental patients are encouraged to telephonically contact the dentists for suggestions to manage their pain. For the reduction of pain, most of the clinicians are prescribed systemic drugs, such as analgesic and non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. However, the most effective drugs in terms of overcoming post-operative pain and facial swelling are steroids which exhibit excellent ant inflammatory efficacy 4. Gallatin et al have concluded that the intraosseous injection of slow-releasing methyl-prednisolone can temporarily relieve the symptoms of irreversible pulpitis until a definitive clinical treatment.5However, it should be noted that literature does not suggest any clinical guidelines to manage patients with symptomatic pulpitis without any dental visit, which is quite difficult in the current scenario.
Thus a study was planned on patients who contacted telephonically during lockdown period which was declared on 22 March 2020 in India with the aim to evaluate the beneficial effects of orally administered corticosteroid in alleviating the pain of symptomatic irreversible pulpitis.