Children's discomfort in assessments using different methods for approximal caries detection.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dentistry
• Dental Diagnostics
• Caries Detection

Background:

• Discomfort during dental examinations can impact diagnostic method performance.
• Assessing patient-reported discomfort is crucial for evaluating pediatric dental diagnostic tools.
• Approximal caries detection in primary teeth requires methods suitable for children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and compare the level of discomfort experienced by children using different methods for detecting approximal caries in primary teeth.
• To identify which diagnostic methods for approximal caries are most comfortable for pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

• Seventy-six children aged 4 to 12 years underwent examinations using visual inspection, bitewing radiography, laser fluorescence pen (LFpen), and temporary separation with orthodontic rubbers.
• Discomfort was quantitatively assessed using the Wong-Baker pain scale.
• Discomfort levels were compared across the four diagnostic methods and analyzed by age groups.

Main Results:

• Visual inspection resulted in significantly lower reported discomfort compared to other methods.
• Bitewing radiography and LFpen exhibited similar, moderate levels of discomfort.
• Temporary separation caused higher discomfort in older children, while younger children reported less discomfort with LFpen.

Conclusions:

• Visual inspection is the most comfortable method for detecting approximal caries in primary teeth among children.
• Bitewing radiography, temporary separation, and LFpen are associated with higher levels of patient-reported discomfort.
• Age influences the perception of discomfort with specific methods, suggesting tailored approaches may be beneficial.