Pain intensity and control with fixed orthodontic appliance therapy : a clinical comparative study on Iraqi sample

Abstract EN

Background : the purpose of this prospective, randomized clinical trial was to investigate the level and intensity of patients` pain and discomfort, and to compare between the use of Bite Wafer and Paracetamol in reducing pain and discomfort associated with initial orthodontic tooth movement in both adolescents and adults.

Sample : 110 subjects with two age groups, 52 adolescents with age range from 12 to less than 18 years and 58 adults with age range 18-24 years, successfully completing the study.

For each subject fixed orthodontic appliance (Roth 0.022) was bonded and round 0.014 NiTi arch wire was ligated with elastic ligature.

The subjects in the Bite Wafer group were instructed to chew on it whenever they feel pain for the next 7 days, and document the time and effectiveness of it in the questionnaire.

The Paracetamol group subjects instructed to use Paracetamol 500mg to relive pain and record times and effectiveness of its use in questionnaire.

Results : the peak of pain was occurred in the first day and declined gradually till totally disappeared at the sixth day after initial arch wire placement.

A marked reduction of pain intensity was noticed in both adolescents and adults groups, using Bite Wafer, from the first to the sixth day which is much higher than Paracetamol group especially in adolescents.

No gender differences (P > 0.05) was noticed in this study.

Conclusion : although both Bite Wafer and Paracetamol reduced pain gradually, Bite Wafer reduced pain more obviously and safely in comparison to Paracetamol especially in adolescents.