Comparison of two pain assessment tools in patients undegoing routine dental extraction

Abstract

Background: There are numerous tools currently utilized for measuring pain and each has its advantages and constraints. The visual analogue scale (VAS) is considered to be a sensitive rating scale however the fact that it must be marked by the patient itself poses a problem to the physically challenged, the elderly and mentally ill patients. A new pain measurement scale; full cap test (FCT) is said to have the benefits of VAS without its practical problems.

Objectives: To assess the validity of full cap test (FCT) as a pain measuring scale in routine dental extractions and compare the FCT with visual analogue scale (VAS).

Materials and Method: A comparative study of two pain measuring tools in subjects undergoing intra-alveolar extractions. All consecutive subjects aged 18 years and above who presented for intra-alveolar extraction of permanent teeth under local anaesthesia. Preoperatively, subjects were asked to evaluate degree of pain experienced on a scale first and then Full Cap scale. Immediately after extraction, subjects were asked to evaluate degree of pain experienced during extraction using VAS and then Full Cap scale. The mean value of the pain experienced using either VAS or FCT was compared with Independent t-test. Cronbach's alpha and Pearson correlation analyses were used for reliability and correlation between the two pain measuring scales respectively.

Results: A total of 100 subjects (male, 52; female 48) participated in the study with a mean age of 35.9 ± 15.9 years. Preoperative Mean VAS and FCT scores were 1.2 ± 1.5 and 1.5 ± 3.5 respectively (p=0.94). Mean VAS and FCT scores for pain during extraction was also not significant (VAS=1.5 ± 2.1, FCT=1.5 ± 2.2) (p=0.98). Both VAS and FCT had a high reliability coefficient (Cronbach’s α=0.99) and they were also well correlated (r=0.99).  

Conclusion:Mean VAS and FCT scores did not differ significantly, they were correlated, and they had a high reliability coefficient. FCT is a reliable pain measuring tool when compared with VAS in subjects undergoing intra-alveolar extraction. FCT correlates well with VAS scores. Therefore, FCT is recommended as a pain measuring tool in dental and maxillofacial research.