81 - Oral Health and Pain in Pediatric Dental Patients

Purpose: Oral pain significantly impacts children’s daily lives not only impairing their ability to eat but their ability to sleep as well. Caregiver perspectives of children’s reports of pain are variable even among parents of children with similar dental diagnoses. The aims of this study are to examine 1) the associations among child pain and caregiver factors and 2) the utility of screening measures in characterizing child pain risk.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was completed surveying caregivers of children seeking dental care with oral pain. Caregivers completed a REDCap survey reporting on caregiver and child demographics, medical and dental histories, pain experiences, and cognitions/responses about child pain.

Results: When completing the Parent Risk Screening Measure (PRISM) and Pediatric Pain Screening Tool (PPST) 50% of parents were high risk and 70% indicated that their children were low risk for pain catastrophizing and fear avoidance. There was a statistically significantly positive correlation between PPST total score and parent stress (P <.05) and a statistically significant negative correlation between PRISM total score and parent stress (P <.05) and child pain (P <.05).

Conclusion: Findings highlight important associations among parent factors and pain, in youth seeking care for oral health. While parental perception of their child’s dental pain has been previously evaluated, examining associations with validated pain screening tools is a novel contribution. The results of this study will help dentists understand relevant caregiver factors associated with child dental pain that may inform development of interventions for youth with pain identified as at elevated risk.