Evaluation of the Correlation Between Preoperative Anxiety and Pain Level in Children Having Primary Tooth Extractions

Purpose: It was aimed in the study to investigate patient satisfaction and the correlation between pain perception during dental applications and preoperative anxiety levels in children with previous dental experience. Material and Methods: One hundred child patients randomly selected between 6-12 aged children that referred to Karadeniz Technical University Pediatric Dentistry were included in the study. Anxiety levels were evaluated with Frankl Behavioral Scale (FBS), Corah Dental Anxiety Scale (CDAS) and Spielberg State-Trait Anxiety Scale (SSAS-SAAS) before dental examination. Perceived pain levels were determined with Five Face Scale and Visual Analoge Scale after the tooth extraction. Results: Correlation was observed between dental anxiety, continuous anxiety and momentary anxiety before the primary tooth extraction and pain perceived after the extraction and satisfaction about the treatment. Conclusion: It is concluded that children with high level preoperative dental anxiety have higher degrees of pain perception after the treatments. There is stil a need for studies explaining anxiety raising problems, pince pain perception during dental treatment could be reduced.