PEDODONTİ KLİNİĞİNE AĞRI ŞİKAYETİYLE BAŞVURAN HASTALARDA ANALJEZİK KULLANIMININ DEĞERLENDİRİLMESİ

Abstract

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of analgesics, the doses used and the level of knowledge of patients about analgesics in patients presenting with pain to the pediatric dentistry clinic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire was applied to the parents of 120 children aged 3-15 years who referred to ……. University Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, with pain. The questionnaire included following data; the duration of the pain, the type and dose of the analgesic used, the intensity of the pain before and following analgesic use based on the VAS scale, knowledge about the maximum daily dose of the analgesic used. The data were analyzed statistically with Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty patients were included in the study. The mean age of children using analgesics was 8.2±2.6 years. Paracetamol was the most frequently used analgesic in this population (64,2%) followed by ibuprofen (45%). 18,3% of children were taking more than one analgesic. Although 66,6% of the parents were unaware of the maximum daily dose, only three of the children exceeded this limit (using paracetamol). Also 65% of the parents were unaware of side effects of the analgesics. Parents taking analgesics on medical advice were not more aware of the maximum daily dose. CONCLUSIONS: A large portion of the parents were unaware of the maximum daily dose and side effects of analgesics used in children. Dentists treating cases with pain should inform patients about the use of analgesics, side effects and maximum doses.