Incidence and severity of postoperative pain following routine placement of amalgam restorations.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the incidence and severity of postoperative sensitivity, examining several potential sources of pain.


METHODS
One hundred eighteen subjects were asked about pain that they experienced following an appointment for restoration of a moderate Class I or II carious lesion. The survey required subjects to complete 3 questionnaires, 1, 4, and 7 days posttreatment. Questions covered 9 different potential sources of postoperative pain and the use of pain medication following the dental appointment.


RESULTS
A great majority of subjects experienced postoperative pain from at least 1 source, and approximately half of those who reported pain following the appointment found it necessary to take medication for relief. For almost all categories, the level of pain reported at 4 and 7 days was substantially less than that reported after 24 hours.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients commonly experience pain in the first 24 hours after operative treatment. Dentists should consider recommending that patients who are likely to experience postoperative pain take a nonprescription analgesic around the time of the treatment and for 24 hours afterward to prevent discomfort.
Browning
W D
WD
Department of Oral Rehabilitation, School of Dentistry, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta 30912-1260, USA. wbrownin@mail.mcg.edu
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D003723:Dental Amalgam