Pain and anxiety following the placement of dental implants

Pain and anxiety following the placement of dental implants
(January 28-29, 2005)
A. HASHEM, Dental College & Hospital, Dublin, Ireland, and B. O'CONNELL, University of Dublin, Trinity College, Ireland
IADR
Objectives: The study investigated pain experience and anxiety following dental implant placement using questionnaires and salivary cortisol measurements. Methods: Eighteen patients, twelve females and six males, who received 30 implants, were recruited for the study. Patients were instructed to keep recovery diaries to assess pain experience (limitation of activities, postoperative symptoms, average pain, worst pain and interference with daily activities). To assess anxiety, patients completed the Spielberger self-evaluation questionnaire and collected salivary samples to measure cortisol levels as a means of assessing anxiety. A repeated measure ANOVA was used to analyse pain and anxiety data. Results: following implant placement, most patients reported mild to moderate interference with daily activities and postoperative symptoms. Average pain experience was statistically significant for both subjects (F=12.56; P<0.0001) and time (F=6.17; P< 0.0001). Worst pain was also statistically significant for subjects (F=13.22; P<0.0001) and time (F=7.84; P< 0.0001). Similarly interference with daily activities was statistically significant for subjects (F=4.59; P<0.0001) and time (F= 6.26; P<0.0001). State anxiety as evaluated by Spielberger self evaluation scale was statistically significant for subjects (F=5.405; P<0.0001), and time (F=6.26; P< 0.05). The cortisol level did not validate this, as it was statistically significant for subjects (F=3.33; P=0.0002), but not for time of collection (F=2.22; P=0.075). Conclusions: Implant placement is a mild to moderately painful and anxiety-provoking procedure. Some limitations of activities and symptoms are expected to occur particularly during the first three postoperative days.