An Update on Pain Control in Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics: A Review

Abstract

Any healthcare professional must be able to understand pain in order to better manage it. Dental pain can be caused by a variety of things and can manifest itself in many ways. Getting an appropriate diagnosis is the first step in dealing with tooth discomfort. Pain is evaluated using rating tools such as the Visual Analog Scale and questionnaires. Following a diagnosis, a variety of strategies for pain management can be utilized alone or in combination. None of the pain-relieving approaches will work until the underlying source of the pain is addressed. Dental pain can be relieved using a variety of pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods. Patients with dental anxiety may have a decreased pain tolerance, which should be addressed with behavioral treatment. Premedication prior to anaesthetic administration has also been found to improve pain management. Analgesics like NSAIDS, aspirin and a few opioids like morphine are the cornerstones of pain management. Anaesthetics, which can be applied topically or in injectable forms, are another regularly utilized approach. Dental phobia can be overcome with analgesia or conscious sedation, which is commonly used in youngsters. Hypnosis, acupuncture and audio-analgesia have all been shown to be effective in the treatment of pain. Lasers have recently been investigated for the treatment of pain. Virtual reality has also been proven to be successful as a distraction tool. Pain can also be managed with a variety of tried-and-true home treatments. As a result, it’s crucial to recognize that pain treatment is a multifaceted process.