BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Fear of pain may delay or prevent people going to the dentist, especially families assisted by Family Health Strategies. So, this study aimed at investigating pain perception of dental patients from Family Health Units of the city of Caruaru (UFSC), state of Pernambuco. METHOD: This is a transversal, analytical and epidemiological study where socio-demographic data and history of 312 patients were collected through standardized personal interviews. Pain intensity was measured by the 21-point numerical scale (from 0 to 10, with 0.5 intervals), where patients themselves checked the number corresponding to perceived pain during treatment. RESULTS: Pain during treatment was present in 22.1% of the sample and was more frequent in younger patients who only look for the dentist when they feel pain or who always or almost always have felt pain during previous treatments. Mean perceived pain intensity was 4.1 and was statistically higher for patients who usually only look for the dentist when they feel pain. Pain was more frequent during tooth extractions but its intensity has not significantly varied among procedures. CONCLUSION: Pain during USFC treatment was less frequent as compared to other studies, however with higher intensity; and was more frequent among individuals who only look for the dentist when they feel pain.
Dental assistance; Pain measurement; Pain perception; Primary health care
