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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Chris PenlingtonORCiD, Professor Justin DurhamORCiD, Emma Beecroft
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
Key Points 1 – The experience of pain is influenced by both organic factors and the pain signalling system. It is therefore important to assess for and communicate about the impact of each. 2 – As pain persists over time typically the role of organic factors becomes less and that of the pain signalling system more important to the ongoing experience of pain. 3 – Clinicians need both to understand the complexity of pain and to be able to communicate collaboratively about it with their patients. 4. Differences in how pain is understood within a consultation are likely to reduce the likelihood of effective management. In Brief Dental professionals are used to treating pain that has a clear and organic cause, and patients visiting the dentist are also likely to have this expectation. However, in addition to potential organic contributions to the experience of pain the nervous system (pain signalling system) also plays an important role. Alongside organic contributions it is important to also consider that persistent pain is different to acute pain and requires different explanations and different management. Dental professionals need to be equipped to understand and explain persistent pain and to incorporate this understanding into their ongoing patient management.
Author(s): Penlington C, Durham J, Beecroft E
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: British Dental Journal
Year: 2023
Volume: 236
Pages: 599-602
Online publication date: 26/04/2024
Acceptance date: 24/10/2023
Date deposited: 09/11/2023
ISSN (print): 0007-0610
ISSN (electronic): 1476-5373
Publisher: Nature
URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-024-7283-1
DOI: 10.1038/s41415-024-7283-1
ePrints DOI: 10.57711/qn0t-pm70
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