Post-operative pain and anxiety related to dental procedures in children

To determine post-operative pain in children following treatment in the dental chair and its relation to dental anxiety.

A group of 125 children, aged 5 to 18 years, attending for dental treatment had their pain recorded post-operatively using the revised version of the Faces Pain Scale (FPS-R) and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Baseline anxiety scores were also recorded using the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale (faces) (MCDASf).

The mean MCDASf score was 20.1. Post-operative pain was reported in 62% of children at 2 hours, 51% at 4, and 47% at 6 hours. The surgical subgroup reported the most pain (79%), whereas the conservative treatment for primary teeth group reported the least pain (37%). Anxious patients (MCDASf > = 17) were more likely to report pain than less anxious patients at 2 (p=0.02) and 6 (p=0.03) hours post-operatively.

Dental procedures are associated with post-operative pain in children. Anxious patients are more likely to report pain.