Pain Experience And Analgesic Consumption In Orthodontic Patients After Fixed Appliance Adjustments

Objective: To investigate the frequency of pain and analgesic intake among orthodontic patients on the first day of fixed appliance adjustments. Methods: This retrospective observational study included 313 orthodontic patients from the Rawal Institute of Health Sciences, Islamabad, conducted between 3rd January 2024, and 30th August 2024. Patients aged 13 years and above undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment for at least three months were included in this study. Patients already taking analgesics for any reason were excluded from the study. Data on pain experiences (mild, moderate, severe) and analgesic intake (type, dosage, frequency) within the first 24 hours of bracket placement were collected from the history. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to assess the association between pain and analgesic use, with significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: Of the 313 patients, 255 (81.5%) were females and 58 (18.5%) were males. Pain was reported as follows: 75 (24%) patients experienced no pain, 133 (42.5%) reported mild pain, and 105 (33.5%) reported moderate pain. No patients reported severe pain. Regarding analgesic intake, 120 (38.3%) did not take any analgesics, while 105 (33.5%) used acetaminophen, 45 (14.4%) used ibuprofen, and 43 (13.7%) used naproxen. A significant association was found between pain levels and analgesic intake (p = .000). Conclusion: The study highlights that while many patients experience mild to moderate pain, a significant portion do not utilize analgesics. Acetaminophen was the most common analgesic used, particularly among females. These findings underscore the importance of tailored pain management strategies in orthodontic care to enhance patient comfort and safety. Further research is needed to develop standardized protocols for analgesic use in orthodontic treatment. Keywords: Analgesics, Orthodontic appliances, Pain, Patient comfort.