Comparison of the Effectiveness of Two Different Pain Assessment Methods in Different Orthodontic Procedures

Abstract

Background: This study compares two pain ratings that patients use to indicate how uncomfortable they are during bonding and the collection of orthodontic registration material. Methods: Two hundred people, ages eleven to twenty, participated in the study; 125 were female and 75 were male. The participants' discomfort levels were assessed during bonding operations and the initial registration material collection using the visual analog scale (VAS) and the facial pain scale (FPS). During the first registration material collection in oral photography, dental impressions, X-rays, bonding operations, lip retractor insertion, polishing, acid and sealing, and bracket application, pain levels were recorded. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the data between groups, while the Wilcoxon and Friedman tests were used to analyze the data within groups. The gathered data were statistically analyzed with a significance threshold of 5%. Results: There was a statistically significant positive correlation between the VAS and FPS scales when evaluating pain during intraoral photography, the dental impression procedure, X-rays, lip retractor insertion, polishing, acid and sealing, and bracket bonding (0.537< r < 0.734; P = 0.001). A statistically significant positive connection was also discovered when the gender difference was included (0.261 0.42; P= 0.001). Conclusion: Similar information was obtained during the orthodontic initial registration and bonding procedures using two different pain assessment instruments. It is also believed to make it possible to compare research using different pain scales.