Short Commentary on General Dental Practioners' Knowledge and Attitudes on Children's Pain and Pain Management

Larisa Krekmanova; Agneta Robertson

doi:10.36648/2471-982X.21.7.47

Short Commentary on General Dental Practioners' Knowledge and Attitudes on Children's Pain and Pain Management

Larisa Krekmanova and Agneta Robertson

Published Date: 2021-07-21
DOI10.36648/2471-982X.21.7.47

Larisa Krekmanova^* and Agneta Robertson

Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Institute of Odontology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

*Corresponding Author:: Larisa Krekmanova
Department of Pediatric Dentistry
Institute of Odontology
Sahlgrenska Academy
University of Gothenburg
Gothenburg
Sweden
E-mail: larisa.krekmanova@odontologi.gu.se

Received Date: June 30, 2021; Accepted Date: July 14, 2021; Published Date: July 21, 2021

Citation: Krekmanova L, Robertson A (2021) Short Commentary on General Dental Practioners' Knowledge and Attitudes on Children's Pain and Pain Management. Int J Anesth Pain Med Vol. 7 No.4:47.

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Description

In the results of General dental practitioner’s knowledge and attitudes on children’s pain and pain management-A questionnaire survey, a gap between dentists doing and knowing while observing and treating children in pain occurred [1]. The results reflected the surveyed General Dental Practitioner’s (GDPs) attitudes and knowledge, which were nationally representative at the time of the study.

Professional attitudes and knowledge

Dental professionals’ practicing attitudes and knowledge is still an unexplored area in the literature. The few scattered scientific reports that exist have applied cross-sectional designs [2-5]. In the future, it would be desirable to observe how GDP’s and pedodontists apply their theoretical knowledge and attitudes via longitudinally, prospective study designs. Also, follow-up studies at regular intervals could identify needed educational efforts. Equally important would be to acquire insight into how dental professionals obtain their attitudes on pain management, other than during the dental education. Conceivably, skills that are a fusion of academic education and training are likely to be integrated and adjusted within each dental professional, over time. This process requires selfcriticism and diligence to pursue a higher level of performance. The individual’s possibility to stay updated on the newest treatment options is facilitated through information technology. On the other hand, it takes time to build up experience and expertise.

Children’s pain, dental fear and behaviour management problems

GDPs and pedodontists have a responsibility to ensure a child’s dental encounter is as pain free as possible, to avoid negative experiences influencing future attitudes toward dentistry. Pain is acknowledged to be the most single factor known to induce dental fear and anxiety (DFA) and subsequent avoidance of dental care [6]. Moreover, children with DFA more frequently report pain and higher pain intensity from dental procedures [7]. Young patients’ highest ranked pain-provoking dental procedures are injection, extraction, and restoration; the most challenging procedures for dentists to perform, as they contain technically sensitive steps [7]. Furthermore, children with DFA often exhibit Behaviour Management Problem (BMP) that poses additional obstacles for the dental professionals. Pain issues, DFA, and BMP are not always addressed as a potential entity. The reasons can only be hypothesized, reflecting on dental clinics’ caries burden and working conditions.

Approaching pain, DFA and BMP

An accepted approach to dealing with young patients’ DFA and BMP is to identify the individual’s intrinsic and/or extrinsic circumstances and address them accordingly [8]. This requires highly experienced and competent dental professionals and includes psychological and pedagogical capabilities.

Clinical experience

Dental professionals can accelerate their own clinical experience and expertise by systematically obtaining patients’ self-reports of pain with each treatment. Applicable scales to ensure the management of pain that can be applied are the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), equivalent to the Colored Analogue Scale (CAS) combined with the Facial Analogue Scale (FAS), assessing the emotional state of pain [9]. Applying the scales on a clinical level guarantees a standardized procedure to help children communicate pain, thus strengthening the bond between professionals and patients.

Established dental injection methods, topical agents, and measures which prevent unnecessary suffering are not always sufficiently used by dentists. One reason may be that scientific reports regarding pain prevention and post-operative pain management are inconclusive [10]. Therefore, randomized controlled clinical trials are needed to assess preoperative analgesia effectiveness. However, preoperative planning for a patient’s expected postoperative pain is still each professional’s responsibility. The ethical commitment to minimize children’s pain and suffering by maximizing the use of preventive methods must never be overlooked. A golden standard to neither under nor over-treat with analgesia, requires professional competence. This data can hopefully serve to inspire dentists to refine their technical skills to recognize, prevent, and manage young patients’ pain, as well as DFA and BMP.