Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40913592›Full record

SynthesisSpecial care in dentistry : official publication of the American Association of Hospital Dentists, the Academy of Dentistry for the Handicapped, and the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry

Bridging the Gap in Orofacial Pain Assessment for Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review of Validated Tools.

Bruna de Oliveira Rech, Ana Carolina Costa Borges, Jefferson R Tenório, Beatriz Dulcineia Mendes Souza, Alessandra Rodrigues de Camargo

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Special care in dentistry : official publication of the American Association of Hospital Dentists, the Academy of Dentistry for the Handicapped, and the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Bridging the Gap in Orofacial Pain Assessment for Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review of Validated Tools.Special care in dentistry : official publication of the American Association of Hospital Dentists, the Academy of Dentistry for the Handicapped, and the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry
    Pooled it
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Bruna de Oliveira RechSchool of Dentistry, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil.
Ana Carolina Costa BorgesDepartment of Pathology and Oral Diagnosis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Jefferson R TenórioDepartment of Pathology and Oral Diagnosis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Beatriz Dulcineia Mendes SouzaSchool of Dentistry, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil.
Alessandra Rodrigues de CamargoSchool of Dentistry, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimsSystematically review the literature to answer the focused question: "What is the best way to facilitate pain communication for patients with intellectual disabilities (ID) in dental care?"

methodsA systematic search strategy was conducted in five databases and gray literature. Studies evaluating pain communication in dental care for patients with ID were included. The risk of bias was assessed according to the Meta-Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument.

resultsA total of 1525 studies were screened, and after applying exclusion criteria, 10 articles remained. The included studies were published between 2003 and 2021, with sample sizes ranging from 28 to 270 participants with developmental disabilities. The Dental Discomfort Questionnaire (DDQ) was the most commonly used tool in the studies. Most studies showed a low risk of bias.

conclusionThe DDQ is the most validated tool for assessing dental pain in individuals with ID, though evidence in adults is limited. Other tools provide useful behavioral cues but may not clearly differentiate pain from discomfort or anxiety. The absence of a gold standard underscores the need for context-appropriate tool selection and clinician training to interpret nonverbal pain, enhancing diagnostic accuracy and promoting equitable care.

Indexed as

Dental Care for Persons with DisabilitiesFacial PainIntellectual DisabilityPain MeasurementHumansSurveys and Questionnairesdental care for disabledintellectual disabilitypain measurementsystematic review

Identifiers

PMID40913592
PMCPMC12413780

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.