Flare-Up
An acute exacerbation of pain and/or swelling occurring between endodontic appointments or following treatment, requiring unscheduled clinical attention.
Full Definition
An endodontic flare-up is defined as moderate-to-severe pain and/or swelling that arises after an appointment and necessitates an emergency visit. It is distinct from postoperative sensitivity, which is mild and transient. Flare-ups may result from apical extrusion of debris or irrigants, changes in microbial ecology, or immunological responses. The term is always hyphenated ('flare-up'), functioning as a noun; the verb phrase is 'to flare up' (no hyphen). Editors frequently encounter unhyphenated or inconsistent usage and should standardise to 'flare-up' throughout. The incidence and management of flare-ups are common subjects of randomised controlled trials in endodontic literature.
Usage
Usage note: Noun form is always hyphenated: 'flare-up'. The verb phrase 'to flare up' is two unhyphenated words.
In Context
- "The incidence of flare-up was significantly lower in the single-visit group." — RCT results section
- "Note: 'flare-up' (noun) requires a hyphen; 'the symptoms flared up' (verb phrase) does not." — Copy-editor's style note