Factors associated with pain and analgesic consumption after non-surgical periodontal therapy under local anaesthesia

Knowledge of the occurrence and intensity of pain and the identification of factors concerned with pain perception and analgesic use are essential to the management of patients submitted to non -surgical periodontal procedures. Thus the present study evaluated that smoking, severe periodontal inflammation, and dental anxiety was identified as factors concerned with pain after non-surgical scaling and root planning with local anesthesia. 

Examine the factors concerned with the pain and analgesic consumption following non-surgical periodontal therapy.

The sample consisted of total 218 patients with chronic periodontitis. They were submitted to non-surgical scaling and root planing under the local anaesthesia at a public dental service in southern Brazil. The data collection instruments comprised of a demographic questionnaire, as well as the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and Verbal Rating Scale (VRS). The presence and intensity of pain were examined at 2, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hr after scaling and root planing.

A total of 52.3% of patients described mild intensity pain at some point during 48 hour after scaling and root planing with local anaesthesia. Severe periodontal inflammation (PR=1.31; 95% CI=1.09-1.58), smoking (PR=1.47; 95% CI=1.16-1.65) and dental anxiety (PR=1.24; 95% CI=1.03-1.49) were concerned with postoperative pain after adjusting for age, gender, state and trait anxiety scores. Also, 46.8% of the subjects used analgesics at some time during the 48 hour follow-up period. Dental anxiety was the only factor concerned with the post-operative analgesic use.

Severe periodontal inflammation, smoking and dental anxiety were recognised as factors concerned with pain following non-surgical scaling and root planning with local anaesthesia. Dental anxiety was also a factor concerned with post-operative analgesic use.