DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2016.v04i07.015

Pages: 2376-2379

Various investigations have been performed to understand the nature of pain and discomfort, psychological effects associated with orthodontic treatment. This kind of study has not been conducted in western Uttar Pradesh till date. The aim is to analyze and ascertain the severity of pain that the patients experiences during different stages of orthodontic treatment and their behavioral changes during treatment and also the change in their dietary habits. This cross sectional study was executed by the Department of Orthodontics, KD Dental College from December 2014 to May 2015. Any patient who underwent any procedure (orthodontic treatment) was planned to include in this study. The following inclusion criteria were used: Absence of deciduous teeth; willingness to undergo orthodontic treatment; no previous orthodontic treatment; good general health; disease-free oral mucosa and periodontal tissue. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to assess the pain during various stages of orthodontic treatment. Data of 242 patients was included in the analysis. 47.9% of patients felt pain while undergoing Separator Placement. 39.7% and 34.3% of subjects perceived pain while initial wire and retraction respectively. Mean pain score measured on Visual Analogue Scale was found to be highest in case of Separator Placement (8.04) followed by 7.25 in retraction and 4.53 in initial wire. Majority (54.28%) of them felt occasional dull type of pain followed by 40% subjects who felt continuous throbbing pain. Only 3 patients reported having acute throbbing type of pain. 31.8% perceived changes in the behaviour and 72.7% of patients perceived changes in their food habits. Pain was frequently reported by study subjects during and after orthodontic treatment, mainly after Separator Placement and initial arch wire insertion. A healthy dietary change was noted in patients as a response to fixed appliance.