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Measuring pain after oral surgery
Author(s) -
Coulthard P.,
Patel N.,
Bailey E,
Coulthard M.B.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
oral surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.156
H-Index - 11
eISSN - 1752-248X
pISSN - 1752-2471
DOI - 10.1111/ors.12075
Subject(s) - medicine , analgesic , context (archaeology) , visual analogue scale , rating scale , oral surgery , pain assessment , postoperative pain , pain management , intensity (physics) , physical therapy , anesthesia , surgery , psychology , paleontology , developmental psychology , physics , quantum mechanics , biology
Aim To describe the measurement of pain after oral surgery. Materials and methods A review of the literature describing the scales used to rate pain intensity, pain assessment by questionnaire, assessment of pain in children and older adults, the third molar pain model and factors affecting the pain experience in the context of managing pain after oral surgery. Results The most frequently used single‐rating scales are the Numerical Rating Scale ( NRS ), the V erbal R ating S cale ( VRS ), the Visual Analogue Scale ( VAS ) and the F aces P ain S cale. The surgical removal of a lower third molar with bone removal is associated with severe post‐operative pain and the procedure is used as a model for investigation of analgesic efficacy. Conclusions If pain is not assessed, then it is unlikely that it will be properly treated. The scales to measure pain intensity such as the NRS that can be used readily in the hospital, clinic or over the phone when the patient has been discharged home.