Early management of dental pain in children and adolescents

Objectives: There is little information regarding the initial management of dental pain in children and adolescents. The present study investigated the early management of 155 children and adolescents with dental pain prior to definitive treatment in the Eastman Dental Institute and Hospital for Oral Health Care Sciences, London, UK. Method: Prior to the child being examined by a qualified dentist in the casualty department, the accompanying parents or guardians were requested to complete a self-administered questionnaire regarding the duration and severity of pain, presence of swelling, professional advice sought and medication taken. Results: Of the attending children, 83% were in pain, 20% having been in pain for over 1 month. Most parents sought professional health care advice, particularly from a dentist; however, 15% initially obtained advice from a medical practitioner and 5% from a pharmacist. Simple analgesics were taken by 74% of patients; however, these rarely produced complete pain relief. Of concern, 10 children were inappropriately given aspirin, three of whom had taken the aspirin on the advice of a pharmacist. Sixty-seven children received systemic antibiotic therapy; however, 31% of these patients did not have any local swelling. Conclusion: It is evident that children and adolescents often receive inappropriate initial treatment for dental pain and may thus suffer unnecessary symptoms for several weeks. There is thus a need to educate healthcare workers more appropriately on aspects of the management of oral pain and to promote oral health care and hence reduce the incidence of caries in children.