title: Children's discomfort in assessments using different methods for approximal caries detection.
abstract: Because discomfort caused by different approximal caries detection methods can influence their performance, the assessment of this discomfort is important. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the discomfort reported by children after the use of different diagnostic methods to detect approximal caries lesions in primary teeth: visual inspection, bitewing radiography, laser fluorescence (DIAGNOdent pen - LFpen) and temporary separation with orthodontic rubbers. Seventy-six children aged 4 to 12 years were examined using these methods. Their discomfort was assessed using the Wong-Baker scale and compared among the methods. Visual inspection caused less discomfort than did other methods. Radiography and the LFpen presented similar levels of discomfort. Older children reported higher discomfort using temporary separation, whereas younger children reported less discomfort with the LFpen. In conclusion, radiographic, temporary separation and LFpen methods provoke higher discomfort than visual inspection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. tatifn@usp.br
authors.forename: Tatiane Fernandes
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Novaes
authors.forename: Ronilza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matos
authors.forename: Daniela Prócida
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Raggio
authors.forename: Mariana Minatel
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.forename: Fausto Medeiros
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Mendes
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010808:Physical Examination; D011861:Radiography, Dental; D012015:Reference Standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results