Scales for pain assessment in cervical dentin hypersensitivity: a comparative study

Bethânia Lara Silveira Freitas,Evandro Silveira De Oliveira,Paulo Messias De Oliveira Filho,Marina De Souza Pinto,Dhelfeson Willya Douglas-De-Oliveira,Patricia Furtado Gonçalves,Endi Lanza Galvão,Olga Dumont Flecha

doi:10.1590/1414-462x202000020372

Bethânia Lara Silveira Freitas, Evandro Silveira De Oliveira + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1414-462x202000020372

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Abstract

Abstract Background Currently, different pain scales are used extensively to measure clinical pain, especially in dental practice. Objective This study aims to compare pain scales used in clinical research and dental practice, identifying the easiest to understand by patients with Cervical Dentin Hypersensitivity. Method Seventy-four patients with Cervical Dentin Hypersensitivity were stimulated by a thermic test of the sensitive tooth, followed by application of different pain measurement scales (Visual Analogue Scale, Faces Pain Scales, Numeric Rating Scale, and Verbal Rating Scale) and by a questionnaire to evaluate the patient's perception regarding the ease of understanding scales. The statistic tests used were the Wilcoxon, Spearman correlation, and Chi-Square tests. Results The results founded a strong positive correlation between the scales (r = 0.798 to 0.960 p <0.001). The was easiest scale to understand according to the patients was the Verbal Rating Scale (52.7%). Conclusion The pain measurement scales evaluated provide similar information about pain reported in the Cervical Dentin Hypersensitivity allowing the comparison between studies that used them to measure pain. The affinity of the patient with the pain scale can guide the clinical dental practice in the different levels of health care.

Highlights

Pain is a sensory and emotional experience of discomfort, presenting a subjective and individual nature
Pain scales have gained a greater proportion in research and clinical settings such as the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Face Pain Scale (FPS), Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), and Verbal Rating Scale (VRS)[5,6,7,8]
The present study aims to compare VAS, FPS, NRS, and VRS pain scales used in clinical research, correlating them, and identifying the easiest one to the patients understand with cervical dentin hypersensitivity (CDH)

Summary

Introduction

Pain is a sensory and emotional experience of discomfort, presenting a subjective and individual nature. Pain scales have gained a greater proportion in research and clinical settings such as the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Face Pain Scale (FPS), Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), and Verbal Rating Scale (VRS)[5,6,7,8] These scales aim to measure, qualify, or evaluate the patient’s behavior when facing painful experiences[9]. Objective: This study aims to compare pain scales used in clinical research and dental practice, identifying the easiest to understand by patients with Cervical Dentin Hypersensitivity. Method: Seventy-four patients with Cervical Dentin Hypersensitivity were stimulated by a thermic test of the sensitive tooth, followed by application of different pain measurement scales (Visual Analogue Scale, Faces Pain Scales, Numeric Rating Scale, and Verbal Rating Scale) and by a questionnaire to evaluate the patient’s perception regarding the ease of understanding scales.

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Conclusion