Assessing pain intensity in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances: A systematic review

Orthodontic treatment commonly induces pain in a significant majority of patients, ranging from ninety to ninety-five percent. This study aimed to systematically review and assess the intensity of orthodontic pain associated with fixed appliances. A comprehensive search was conducted on Pubmed and Hinari databases, as well as orthodontic journal sites, spanning from March to May 2021. Articles reporting on pain intensity in individuals undergoing labial fixed orthodontic treatment were meticulously selected using specific keywords. The Visual Analog Scale was employed to evaluate pain intensity, and each included article underwent a rigorous evaluation based on essential criteria for scientific writing. Data compilation and analysis were performed using SPSS software.

The findings revealed a mean pain intensity of 20.2 mm ± 15.8 across the general study population, with a minimum intensity of 0.2 mm and a maximum of 63.2 mm. Effective communication by practitioners, preemptively addressing and explaining the anticipated discomfort and pain during treatment, results in a reduced need for analgesics.