Age Differences in Post-operative Pain Following Dental Implant Surgery

Age Differences in Post-operative Pain Following Dental Implant Surgery
H.A. GRAD, D. LOCKER, R. TODESCAN, C.M.L. CLOKIE, D.A. DEPORTER, D.W. MATEAR, and H.C. TENENBAUM, University of Toronto, Canada
2004
IADR
Pain is a subjective sensation. The data on pain experience in the elderly population is limited and conflicting. Objective: To determine if there are age differences in post-operative pain and other complications following dental implant surgery. Methods: All patients underwent implant surgery, for two stage implants of types EndoporeTM and 3ITM. Implants were inserted and a standard pre and post-operative clinical management protocol was followed per study guidelines. The patients were being asked to complete questionnaires pre-operatively, immediate post-operatively and at a one-week follow-up visit in order to determine preoperative-pain expectations, post-operative pain experience and analgesic medication during the week following implant placement. Pain was measured on 100mm VAS scales with ÇƒÚNo pain' and ÇƒÚWorst pain I have ever experienced' as the anchors. At the one-week follow-up clinical ratings were obtained concerning swelling, ecchymosis, infection and wound healing, again using 100mm VAS scales. Non-parametric statistical tests were used to compare the pain and clinical ratings for two age groups: 59 years and under and 60 years and over. Results: To date 30 patients have been enrolled in the study. Their ages ranged from 28 to 75 years. There was a significant association between patients' preoperative pain expectations and immediate post-operative pain experience (Spearman's r=0.68; p<0.001). Pain expectations and immediate post-operative pain were not associated with pain at 1 week. Pain experience at 1 week was associated with clinical ratings of swelling (Spearman's r=0.40; p<0.05) and infection at 1 week (Spearman's r=0.45; p<0.05). There were no differences between those aged 59 and under (n=16) and those aged 60 and over (n=14) in pain expectations, pain experiences or post-operative complications. Conclusions: Based on this initial sample, older patients undergoing implant surgery are no more likely to experience pain or post-operative complications than younger patients.