A Concise Book on Basics of Pain in Dentistry

Dental pain is a significant health problem which negatively affects the lives of millions of people worldwide and induces huge societal costs. The pain is often described as ¿unbearable¿ or ¿the worst pain I¿ve ever had¿ or sometimes even ¿worse than childbirth¿. Pain, a vital physiologic sensation, is a key early warning device, an alarm system that announces the presence of a potentially damaging stimulus. It is a common symptom, bringing many patients to the dental office for emergency care. It is a highly personal experience that is communicated outwardly to healthcare providers through body and facial expressions. Understanding the basic aspects of neuroanatomy, neurophysiology and neurochemistry that are related to pain can help a dentist to grasp the underlying mechanism that needs to be sorted out. This can help them for better understanding of how an analgesic or local anesthetic works during their phases of treatment.