Pain Perception Before Endodontic Treatment: from Primary Care to Specialized Care

Abstract Objective: To analyze patients' pain perception requiring endodontic treatment referred to a Dental Specialties Center. Material and Methods: Data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire for patients about their experience of pain and another for endodontists about the treatment performed. The results were analyzed descriptively using Pearson's Chi-square test and Fisher's Exact test, with Bonferroni correction (p≤0.05). Results: The median age of the patients was 39 years, and 71.1% were female. The median waiting time for treatment was five months. Pain was reported by 75.2% of patients, occurred more than one month earlier (63.6%), with moderate/severe intensity (66.9%), and most patients sought emergency treatment more than once (79.1%). In addition, pain was associated with sex (female; p=0.008); moderate/severe intensity (p<0.001); the number of times that patient had to go to the dentist because of the tooth treatment (twice or more; p=0.002); and type of tooth treated (posterior tooth; p=0.002). Conclusion: Severe pain episodes resulted in a repeated search for emergency services, which may overload the primary care service, especially if the waiting time for endodontic treatment is long.

Avaliação da atenção secundária em endodontia em um Centro de Especialidades Odontológicas (CEO) / Evaluation of secondary care in endodontics at a Dental Specialties Center (DSC)

Resumo Objetivou-se avaliar a atenção secundária em endodontia em um Centro de Especialidades Odontológicas (CEO) de Belo Horizonte (MG). A coleta de dados utilizou dois formulários: (1) sobre o tratamento endodôntico, preenchido pelos endodontistas; (2) sobre o tratamento restaurador, com dados dos prontuários. O programa SPSS 19.0 foi utilizado para analisar os resultados por meio de frequência e percentis. Foram finalizados 452 tratamentos endodônticos em pacientes adultos. Os pacientes apresentaram mediana de 39 anos de idade, a maioria era do sexo feminino (69,7%) e apresentou guia de referência da atenção básica (96,2%). A maior parte dos tratamentos endodônticos foi realizada em pré-molares superiores (23,7%), seguida de molares inferiores (22,3%), utilizando técnica mista (74,1%) e em única sessão (64,2%). O encaminhamento para o tratamento restaurador foi para o CEO em 81,2% dos casos e finalizado em 24,1% casos (n = 109). A contrarreferência após o tratamento restaurador ocorreu em 58,7% dos casos finalizados. É necessário um planejamento conjunto do tratamento odontológico entre a atenção básica e secundária e, dentro desta última, entre as especialidades, além de um adequado processo de referência e contrarreferência, visando garantir a integralidade do cuidado e a eficiência e eficácia do serviço.

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate secondary endodontic care at a Dental Specialties Center (DSC) in Belo Horizonte, MG. Data collection used two forms: (1) on endodontic treatment, completed by the endodontists (2) on the restorative treatment, with data from the medical records. The SPSS 22.0 program was used to analyze the results using frequency and percentiles. In total, 452 endodontic procedures were completed in adult patients. The patients had a median of 39 years of age, most were female (69.7%) and had a primary care referral order (96.2%). Most endodontic treatments were performed in upper premolars (23.7%) followed by lower molars (22.3%), using a mixed technique (74.1%) and in a single session (64.2%). The referral for restorative treatment was for the DSC in 81.2% of cases and finished in 24.1% (n = 109). The counter-referral following restorative treatment occurred in 58.7% of the completed cases. It is necessary to jointly plan the dental treatment between primary and secondary care and, within the latter, among the specialties, in addition to an adequate referral and counter-referral process aimed at ensuring comprehensive care and efficient and effective service.