Assessment of Pain Experience and Quality of Life in Patients Undergoing Fixed Orthodontic Treatment
Keywords:
Fixed orthodontic treatment, pain perception, oral health-related quality of lifeAbstract
Background: The use of fixed orthodontic treatment has been successful in the correction of malocclusion and enhancement of oral aesthetics, but there are side effects such as pain and discomfort, which can adversely affect the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of patients. Knowing the degree of pain and its consequences on everyday functioning is crucial in enhancing patient-centered orthodontic care.
Objective: To determine the pain experience and its relationship with the oral health-related quality of life among patients receiving fixed orthodontic treatment.
Methodology: The study is an analytical cross-sectional study. Non-probability convenience sampling was used to enroll 152 patients who received fixed orthodontic treatment. Data analysis was done in SPSS version. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and the inferential statistics consisted of independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and the Pearson correlation coefficient. A p-value that was less than 0.05 was counted as significant.
Results: The average pain rating was 5.12 ± 1.98, with most of the participants experiencing moderate pain. The level of pain in women was much higher than in men (p=0.041). The patients with shorter treatment had a significantly higher level of pain and OHRQoL (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Pain is a common occurrence in fixed orthodontic treatment and greatly affects the quality of life of the patients. Pain management and patient education are needed to increase the treatment comfort, compliance, and patient satisfaction.
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References
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