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Determinants of painful experience during dental treatment

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pain is usually associated to dental care and several factors may influence its perception because it is a complex process. So, our study aimed at identifying factors established by the scientific literature as determinants of this painful experience. CONTENTS: Pain during dental treatment is more associated to invasive procedures, tooth extractions and surgeries, but it may also be associated to noninvasive procedures. Local anesthesia is referred to as a painful procedure generating anxiety. Although some patient-related factors may influence pain perception, few studies have analyzed such factors, with the exception to anxiety. There are controversies with regard to the role of patient's sociodemographic variables. With regard to children, studies have shown that dentists do not believe in pain referred by children and tend not to use available methods to control pain. CONCLUSION: Anxiety is determinant for pain during dental care and pain is related to local anesthetic procedures. There are evidences that dentists' attitudes are determinants for pain.

Anxiety to dental treatment; Dental care; Fear of dental treatment; Odontalgia; Toothache


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