Experience of pain during an orthodontic procedure

Abstract

This study investigated pain experiences during a common orthodontic treatment. Fifty-five patients (12-18 yr) starting treatment due to crowding were included. Molar elastic separators were inserted bilaterally, and telephone interviews were made during evenings for a week. Pain intensity was assessed on a VAS scale, and pain medications were recorded. Forty-eight patients (87%) reported pain the first evening. The highest intensity of pain was reached the day after placement of separators (VAS mean = 43.7). At day 7, 42% of the patients still reported pain. Pain medication was used by 27% of the patients during the first 2 d, after which no patients used painkillers. While motivational factors and reasons for seeking treatment did not influence pain assessments, patients taking pain medication made significantly higher pain ratings during the days medication was used. Girls made significantly higher pain ratings during the later phase (day 3-7) of the follow-up week. Statistically significant relationships were found between 'late' VAS assessments and reported level of previous general pain experiences. The perceived pain from separators was comparable to previous general and dental pain experiences. It was concluded that pain is common after a simple procedure such as placement of molar separators. The experience of pain varied substantially among subjects. The intensity of pain was gradually reduced, but still more than 40% of the teenagers reported some pain after 1 week.

Satisfaction with orthodontic treatment

“…4,5,[13][14][15][16][17] Earlier studies also showed that male patients have different expectations of orthodontic treatment than female patients. Although female patients seek treatment to improve their appearance and self-confidence, male patients want treatment to improve their social well-being.…”

Effectiveness of piroxicam and ibuprofen premedication on orthodontic patients' pain experiences

“…Since there is no objective scale with which to measure the intensity of pain perceived, the VAS scale was chosen because it has been shown to be the most reliable and accurate tool in the evaluation of subjective experiences such as pain. 19,35 The experimental groups had been formed in such a way that there were an equal number of male and female patients in each group (Table 1). Care was taken that the patients with similar malocclusions and social background were selected.…”

“…This is in agreement with the findings of other studies, 5,18 which have found the greatest need for analgesics to exist within 3 days after archwire placement. Bergius et al 19 found that 87% of participants reported pain on the first evening, but the most intense pain was reported to occur the day after archwire placement.…”

Periotome as an Aid to Atraumatic Extraction: A Comparative Double Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Improvements in local anaesthetics as well as its delivery armamentarium have resulted in painless extractions but the fear of post extraction pain deters many patients from undergoing this procedure [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Soft tissue trauma is one of the reasons for post extraction pain and various techniques have been tried to reduce this component's contribution.…”