Ranking of dental and somatic pain sensations among paediatric dental patients.

BACKGROUND

Children suffer from somatic and dental pain, which may interfere with their everyday life. Pain self-report tools are available for children. Research is needed to better understand the perception of dental pain in comparison with pain in other organs.

AIM

To investigate relations between the perceptions of dental and somatic pain complaints among school-age children.

DESIGN

One hundred and two children, aged 7-17 years (mean age, 11.5 ± 2.65 years), completed questioners regarding their somatic and dental: 1. Memory pain rank (MPR) and 2. Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (FRS).

RESULTS

Children reported increased dental pain after school in both scales (P = 0.015 in MPR). In both MPR and FRS, the pattern of pain ranking was similar: Abdominal pain was scored highest (2.75 ± 1.4 and 1.56 ± 1.63, respectively), followed by headache, ear, dental and TMJ (Temporomandibular joint).

CONCLUSION

There was a strong correlation between pain perception and current pain scores in every organ. Somatic pain, namely head, abdomen and ears, was ranked significantly higher than dental and TMJ pain. School-aged children rank current pain and pain experience significantly lower while they are pre-occupied (school time) in comparison with times when they are less busy (after school time).