Professional dental prophylaxis increases salivary cortisol in children with dental behavioural management problems: a longitudinal study

BACKGROUND: Dental procedures may cause stress and increase the salivary cortisol levels. It is important to known if apparently simple procedures such as professional dental prophylaxis at low speed (DP) are stressful for children with dental behaviour management problems (DBMP) to help with behaviour guidance strategies. This longitudinal study aimed to evaluate if DP changes a physiological marker of stress (salivary cortisol) in children with DBMP who were referred to dental treatment under sedation. METHODS: One paediatric dentist carried out a DP with rubber cup and pumice followed by dental examination in 39 children aged 2–5 years, prior to the dental sedation appointment. Children’s saliva was collected at three different moments: upon waking (UW), on arrival at the dental office reception area (RA) and 25 min after the dental prophylaxis (DP). The saliva samples were analysed using an enzyme immunoassay kit. The Wilcoxon test was used in paired comparison (P < 0.05). RESULTS: Salivary cortisol levels decreased from UW (0.34; 0.15–0.54) to RA (0.14; 0.08–0.56) (P = 0.019) and increased from RA to DP (0.25; 0.06–1.48) (P = 0.008). Higher salivary cortisol levels were observed at DP when compared to RA in children who did not have previous dental treatment (P = 0.007), had toothache (P = 0.006), presented some protest behaviour during DP (P = 0.008), or needed protective stabilisation by parents for the dental examination (P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Paediatric dentists should be aware that even simple procedures such as professional dental prophylaxis are related to stress in young children.