Evaluation of post-operative pain following dental procedures under local anesthesia among pediatric patients at Al Rass, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The use of analgesic medication usage in children after receiving dental treatments on primary molars under local anesthesia is of interest. Hence, a study consisting of 182 children aged from 4 to 12 years old, who received at least one of the following procedures: dental restoration, extraction, placement of stainless steel crown (SSC) with or without pulpotomy was completed. Parents were contacted by phone within 48 hours to assess post-operative pain by using Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (WBF). Individuals who were reachable via phone (146 out of 182, response rate 80.2%). 30.8% of them reported experiencing pain or discomfort (WBF more than or equal 2). Pediatric patients who had SSC on their primary molars had a considerably higher incidence of reporting pain than any other dental procedures are 44.8% at p < 0.001. However, there was no significant difference in reported pain between placements of SSC alone or SSC with pulpotomy are 44.8% and 46.5%, respectively. Further, over-the-counter analgesics were administered in 19.9% of participants.