Pain Management in the Dental Patient

The multidimensional nature of dental and orofacial pain requires an interdisciplinary approach to its assessment and management. This chapter provides an overview of different aspects of pain management in the small-animal dental patient, including pathophysiology, dental nociception, assessment and treatment. Patients with gingivitis and dental pain show mild to severe discomfort and physical and psychological impairment. Periodontal disease and oral pain have a significant negative effect on the nutritional status of children. Recognition of pain-induced behaviors is crucial for appropriate treatment and provision of analgesics, and this can be considered one of the main challenges in veterinary dentistry. Periodontal disease is common in small animal practice, and a significant cause of pain. Treatment of dental and orofacial pain is complex, due to the variety and number of conditions that may be presented. The chapter provides an overview of the analgesic strategies and classes of drugs used for pain relief of the dental patient.