title: Post-operative pain and anxiety related to dental procedures in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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. 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dental procedures are associated with post-operative pain in children. Anxious patients are more likely to report pain.
authors: Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry, Dental and Maxillofacial Centre, Bahrain Defence Force.
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Mustafa
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Parekh
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Ashley
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Anand
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies