SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES

Evaluation of inorganic particles of composite resins with nanofiller content
Eduardo Gonçalves Mota, Lucas Hörlle, Hugo Mitsuo Oshima, Luciana Mayumi Hirakata
103-107

Adaptation and Validation of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale in Lithuania
Birutė Jankauskienė, Julija Narbutaitė, Ričardas Kubilius, Alvydas Gleiznys
108-113

Influence of the temperature on the cement disintegration in cement-retained implant restorations
Tomas Linkevicius, Egle Vindasiute, Algirdas Puisys, Laura Linkeviciene, Olga Svediene
114-117

Pain and discomfort perception among patients undergoing orthodontic treatment: Results from one month follow-up study
Aiste Kavaliauskiene, Dalia Smailiene, Ieva Buskienė, Daiva Keriene
118-125

Evaluation of Mechanical Properties on three Nanofilled Composites
Rogério Simões Rosa, Eduardo Blando, Eduardo Gonçalves Mota, Hugo Mitsuo Silva Oshima, Luciana Hirakata, Roberto Hübler, Carlos Eduardo Agostini Balbinot, Luis Antonio Gaieski Pires
126-130

Stomatologija 2012; 14 (4): 118-25 174 KB

Pain and discomfort perception among patients undergoing orthodontic treatment: Results from one month follow-up study

Aiste Kavaliauskiene, Dalia Smailiene, Ieva Buskiene, Daiva Keriene

Summary

Objective. To explore pain and discomfort experience among patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with different appliances during one month after the appliance insertion, and to elucidate predicting role of patients’ motivation for treatment and awareness of discomfort to the intensity of pain.

Material and methods. The study group consisted of 93 orthodontic patients treated with braces (48.4%), braces and head gear (9.7%), removable appliances (34.4%) and functional appliances (7.5%). The patients were asked about pain and discomfort (increased salivation, soft tissues lesion, etc.) they had experienced during one month after the appliance insertion and about motivation for treatment as well as awareness of probable discomfort.

Results. 72.0% of patients reported that they complained of pain after one day the appliance had been inserted, but the percentage of such respondents significantly decreased during one month. Patients experienced the highest scores of discomfort from 12 hours to 2 days after the appliance insertion. The change of pain intensity and scores of other discomforts depended on treatment method showing favourable trends for patients treated with braces and head gear, and functional appliances. Patients who were positively motivated for the treatment or were aware of possible pain and discomfort reported significantly decreasing pain during treatment.

Conclusions. The perception of pain and discomfort among orthodontic patients was variable during the first month after the appliance insertion regarding the type of appliance, patients’ motivation for treatment and their awareness of probable discomfort.

---

*Clinic of Orthodontics, Academy of Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences

Aiste Kavaliauskiene* – D.D.S., PhD student
Dalia Smailiene* – D.D.S., PhD, assoc. prof.
Ieva Buskienė* – D.D.S.
Daiva Keriene* – B.S.N.

Address correspondence to: Dr. Aiste Kavaliauskiene, Clinic of Orthodontics, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Luksos Daumanto str. 6, LT-50106 Kaunas, Lithuania.
E-mail address: akavaliauskiene@hotmail.com