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

Aim To determine post-operative pain in children following treatment in the dental chair and its relation to dental anxiety. Methods 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). Results The mean MCDASf score was 20.1. Postoperative 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 Conclusion Dental procedures are associated with post-operative pain in children. Anxious patients are more likely to report pain.