Abstract
The aim of this study was to identify if the prevalence of dental pain (past and / or present) is associated with caries experience in Mexican children, as well as to characterize factors associated with dental pain. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a consecutive sample of 309 children 2 to 12 years old who were patients at a dental school clinic in Toluca, Mexico. Data were collected from clinical records. The dependent variable had three categories: 0 = have never had dental pain, 1 = had dental pain before the appointment, and 2 = current dental pain. Non-parametric statistical tests were used in the analysis. A multivariate multinomial logistic regression model was generated in Stata 11.0. Average age was 5.71 ± 2.43 years and 50.8% were boys. The joint dmft+DMFT index was 9.11 ± 4.19. It was observed that 56.6% of children did not report having experienced dental pain, 30.7% reported having previously had dental pain, and 12.6% had pain when the clinical appointment took place. In the multivariate model, variables associated (p < .05) with previous dental pain were age (OR = 1.13); the dmft + DMFT index (OR = 1.13), having had a last dental visit for curative/emergency reasons (OR = 2.41) and prior experience of dental trauma (OR = 2.59). For current pain, only the joint dmft + DMFT index (OR = 1.10, p < 0.05) had significant associations. Almost half of the children had experienced dental pain in their lifetime. Since caries experience is a factor associated with dental pain, decreasing caries levels may ameliorate suffering from dental pain in children.
Highlights
Pain is considered a normal consequence of organ or system disorders
The aim of this study was to identify if the prevalence of dental pain is associated with caries experience in Mexican children, as well as to characterize factors associated with dental pain
Since caries experience is a factor associated with dental pain, decreasing caries levels may ameliorate suffering from dental pain in children
Summary
Pain is considered a normal consequence of organ or system disorders. According to the International Association for the Study of Pain,[1] it is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience that promotes changes in behavior, which often hinders daily activities. Dental pain has been defined as pain originating from innervated tissues within the tooth (pulp) or immediately adjacent tissues (periodontal) as a consequence of caries, periodontal disease, trauma, occlusal dysfunction or abscess.[2,3] This condition can affect daily life in the short, medium and long terms. Adolescents and adults has been identified as
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