Dental postoperative pain management in children.

Misconceptions about the need for pain management in pediatric patients have been shown to be wrong. We now understand that children feel pain and respond to pain medication in much the same way as adults. With this new understanding, practitioners must recognize all the factors that affect the feeling of pain. Pain can be variable and each patient brings a unique set of characteristics to be evaluated. The first objective should be to assess the patient's previous treatment history, medical condition, extent of treatment needed, and age. An effective pain management protocol begins with preoperative pain and anxiety control, with the use of agents such as nitrous oxide and local anesthetics. Postoperative pain medication should be given at the correct dosage and time intervals for the appropriate duration. With our commitment to pain management in children, these protocols should easily translate into improved clinical practice.