Perception of Pain With Bitewing, DIAGNOcam, and Teeth Separation Amongst Children

Osama M Felemban; Jihan A Khan; Najlaa M Alamoudi; Eman A El-Ashiry; Sara M Bagher

doi:10.1016/j.identj.2023.11.002

Perception of Pain With Bitewing, DIAGNOcam, and Teeth Separation Amongst Children

Int Dent J. 2024 Jan 11:S0020-6539(23)00967-X. doi: 10.1016/j.identj.2023.11.002. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Osama M Felemban¹, Jihan A Khan², Najlaa M Alamoudi¹, Eman A El-Ashiry³, Sara M Bagher⁴

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
² University Medical Services Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
³ Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Pedodontic Department, Faculty of Dental Medicine for Girls, Al Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
⁴ Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: sbagher@kau.edu.sa.

PMID: 38216389
DOI: 10.1016/j.identj.2023.11.002

Abstract

Background: This study evaluated the pain and discomfort associated with 3 diagnostic techniques for proximal carious lesions in children aged 5 to 8 years: bitewing (BW) radiographs, DIAGNOcam, and temporary teeth separation.

Methods: The study included 60 healthy children between the ages of 5 and 8 years who had no prior history of dry mouth or mouth breathing, were definitely positive or positive based on Frankl Behavioral Rating Scale, had at least one pair of matched bilateral primary molars and/or permanent first molars in close contact with the adjacent tooth, and were free of restorations and frank cavitation. Each patient evaluated all 3 techniques. The pain and discomfort ratings were obtained by the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale immediately after taking 2 standardised BW radiographs or undergoing use of DIAGNOcam and 2 days after temporary teeth separation with elastic separators by a single trained and experienced paediatric dentist.

Results: The DIAGNOcam procedure resulted in much higher pain and discomfort (3.69 ± 3.10) than the other 2 diagnostic techniques. Within-participant pain and discomfort scored significantly higher with DIAGNOcam compared to BW radiographs (P < .001) and temporary teeth separation (P = .002).

Conclusions: The DIAGNOcam diagnostic technique caused much more pain and discomfort than BW radiographs and temporary teeth separation using orthodontic elastic separators. The report is part of a randomised clinical trial that was registered at www.

Clinicaltrials: gov under the identifier NCT03685058.

Keywords: Bitewing radiographs; DIAGNOcam; Discomfort; Pain; Teeth separation.

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT03685058