Pain assessment and analgesic consumption after nonsurgical periodontal therapy

BACKGROUND: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the analgesic consumption and the frequency and intensity of pain after nonsurgical periodontal therapy, as well as to associate these factors with the extent and severity of periodontitis and with the degree of anxiety before the procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-one patients with chronic periodontitis were recruited. The degree of previous anxiety was assessed with the dental anxiety scale questionnaire. Periodontal data were obtained by means of clinical examination and circumferential probing performed by undergraduate students, supervised by a clinical lecturer. The teeth submitted to treatment in the session were registered. Analgesic consumption was recorded 7 days after periodontal intervention. To measure pain, a visual analog scale was used. The patient was instructed to record the pain intensity at 2, 4, 8, 24, and 48 h after subgingival scaling. Differences in pain intensity between periods after nonsurgical periodontal therapy were performed using Anova test. P < 0.05 was statistically significant. RESULTS: There was no relevant difference between groups in all variables used in the study (P > 0.05). The use of analgesics was significantly more frequent among individuals who had reported higher levels of pain. The degree of anxiety before treatment was similar among groups (P > 0.05). Most individuals reported no pain or mild pain (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Nonsurgical periodontal therapy is associated with low pain or absent pain.