Children’s Perceptions of Pain in Conjunction With Tooth Extraction – A Grounded Theory Study

Abstract

Background: Children frequently experience pain/discomfort during dental treatment. At the same time there seems to be uncertainty among dentists regarding pain management. Pain research in dentistry has mainly been performed in adults using quantitative methods. Meanwhile, qualitative methods as well as the child’s perspective are scarce. This study aims to explore and describe children’s experiences/thoughts regarding pain in conjunction with tooth extraction and the subsequent postoperative period, using grounded theory (GT). Methods: Qualitative interviews were carried out with twelve 10—16-year-olds. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed in open, as well as focused (selective) coding processes according to GT. Three informants were re-interviewed for verification purpose. Results: A core category was identified and named ‘handling the unavoidable unknown’. Instead of focusing on pain, the informants described an urge for more information about the procedure and what to expect in terms of pain/discomfort, during and/or after treatment. They stated that the levels of pain/discomfort were manageable, while the lack of information negatively affected their coping abilities, causing anxiousness. Conclusions: To improve patients’ ability to deal with pain in conjunction with dental extraction, the dental team should ensure better information about the treatment. Thus, the use of psychological techniques is a cornerstone in pain management and must be reflected in clinical guidelines.Trial registration: This study’s protocol was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04064853), August 22, 2019, available at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04064853?term=berlin&cntry=SE&draw=2&rank=1