Electroencephalogram as an Objective Method for Recording Pain after Endodontic Noxious Stimuli

IF 3.6 2区医学 Q1 DENTISTRY, ORAL SURGERY & MEDICINE

Journal of endodontics Pub Date : 2025-10-01 DOI:10.1016/j.joen.2025.05.019

Aysha M. Saad BDS , Mohamed M. Elashiry BDS, MDS, PhD , Alia H. Mansour MD, PhD , Ahmed Elbokl MD, PhD , Mohamed M. Nagy BDS, MDS, PhD , Ahmed A. Hashem BDS, MDS, PhD

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction

This study evaluated the significance of brain wave activity, particularly theta waves, in detecting noxious endodontic stimuli and to determine their validity as an objective method for monitoring pain severity.

Methods

The study included 300 patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis on 1 side of their jaws. Each participant wore a consumer-grade electroencephalogram (EEG) device, the EMOTIV EPOC X, for 10 minutes while seated in a dental chair. The control and inflamed teeth were evaluated to assess the patient's response to applied stimuli. Patients were asked to rate their pain intensity using a visual analog scale (VAS), while their theta wave brain activity was recorded using the EEG. Pain scores and EEG data were then collected and analyzed. Various comparisons were conducted using the signed-rank test, and correlations were assessed using Spearman's rank-order correlation coefficient. P values were adjusted for multiple comparisons using Bonferroni's correction, with the significance level set at P < .05 for all tests.

Results

The results showed that in the inflamed side, theta wave activity (10.57 [6.76]) and VAS pain scores (7 [4]) were significantly higher (P < .001) than the control side (6.99 [4.87] and 1 [1.62], respectively). There was a moderate positive correlation between theta wave activity and VAS pain scores across all readings (0.3 < rs < 0.5, P < .001). Females had significantly higher theta band power readings than males on both sides (P < .05). However, females reported significantly higher pain scores than males only on the inflamed side (P < .001).

Conclusions

This study illustrates the promising potential of monitoring theta brain wave activity as an objective method for assessing pain levels.

查看原文本刊更多论文

脑电图作为记录牙髓毒性刺激后疼痛的客观方法。

本研究评估了脑电波活动，特别是θ波，在检测有害牙髓刺激方面的意义，并确定其作为监测疼痛严重程度的客观方法的有效性。方法：对300例单侧颌骨症状性不可逆性牙髓炎患者进行研究。每位参与者坐在牙科椅上，佩戴消费级EEG设备Emotiv epox 10分钟。对照和发炎的牙齿进行评估，以评估患者对应用刺激的反应。患者被要求用视觉模拟量表（VAS）评估他们的疼痛强度，同时用脑电图记录他们的θ波脑活动。然后收集并分析疼痛评分和脑电图数据。采用符号秩检验进行各种比较，并采用Spearman秩序相关系数评估相关性。采用Bonferroni校正对多重比较的p值进行校正，所有检验的显著性水平均设置为p < 0.05。结果：结果显示，在炎症侧，theta脑波活动（10.57(6.76)）和VAS疼痛评分（7(4)）明显更高(结论：本研究表明，监测theta脑波活动作为评估疼痛程度的客观方法具有良好的潜力。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of endodontics 医学-牙科与口腔外科

CiteScore

8.80

自引率

9.50%

发文量

224

审稿时长

42 days

期刊介绍： The Journal of Endodontics, the official journal of the American Association of Endodontists, publishes scientific articles, case reports and comparison studies evaluating materials and methods of pulp conservation and endodontic treatment. Endodontists and general dentists can learn about new concepts in root canal treatment and the latest advances in techniques and instrumentation in the one journal that helps them keep pace with rapid changes in this field.