Evaluation and Management of Dental Pain in Children Motivating Emergency Consultation at the Dental Consultation and Treatment Center of Casablanca

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the causes, characteristics, treatment of dental pain that was the chief complaint and its evaluation in children aged 4 to 15 years old cared for at the dental consultation and treatment center of Casablanca. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study of 150 children aged between 4and 15years old consulting and/or being cared for in the departments of emergency and pediatric dentistry of the Dental Consultation and Treatment Center of Casablanca. Results: Dental pain was the chief complaint for 92.7% of the study population. 47.5% of the pain was of pulpal origin and 37.4% was related to an infectious complication. 83.8% of patients aged 4 to 6 years required management, while only 48% of patients aged 6 to 15 years had intense to very intense pain. In 61% of cases, this pain was managed by a dental procedure, compared with 35% who were managed by combining the dental procedure with a drug prescription and 4% by a drug prescription. Antibiotics alone or in combination were the most frequently prescribed medication in 35.8% of cases. Dental pain was managed by dental extractions in 46.8% of cases, pulp treatment in 30.2% of cases, and cavity curettage in 7.9% of cases. Conclusion: Dental pain is one of the most dreaded pains, seen, its intensity, frequency, complications and impact on the child's daily activities. This requires its diagnosis, evaluation, and relief to improve the quality of life of young patients.