Fixed orthodontic appliances cause pain and disturbance in somatosensory function

• Published in: European journal of oral sciences Vol. 124; no. 1; pp. 26 - 32
• Main Authors: Shen, Huijie, Shao, Sheng, Zhang, Jinglu, Wang, Zhendong, Lv, Dong, Chen, Wenjing, Svensson, Peter, Wang, Kelun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.02.2016
• Subjects: Gingiva; Humans; Orthodontic Appliances; orthodontic pain; Orthodontic Wires; Pain; Pain Measurement; Pain Threshold; quantitative sensory testing; somatosensory function; trigeminal system; trigeminal system; orthodontic pain; somatosensory function; quantitative sensory testing
• ISSN: 0909-8836; 1600-0722; 1600-0722
• DOI: 10.1111/eos.12234

This study aimed to assess the short‐term effects of orthodontic pain on quantitative sensory testing (QST) in subjects receiving fixed orthodontic treatment. Twenty patients and 12 healthy volunteers (as controls) participated. All 20 patients had bonded AO self‐ligating brackets, with a 0.014 super elastic nickel‐titanium arch wire placed in the brackets. Pain [self‐reported on a visual analog scale (VAS)], and thermal and mechanical thresholds, were tested at six time points – before (baseline), and 2 h, 24 h, 7 d, 14 d, and 30 d after, force application – in the treatment group. The attached gingiva adjacent to the left upper central incisor (21 gingiva) was hypersensitive to cold stimuli (i.e. increased cold detection thresholds were detected) in the treatment group. The pressure pain thresholds of the left upper central incisor (21) and 21 gingiva were significantly reduced. Our results suggest clear signs of sensitization of the trigeminal nociceptive system up to 1 month after force application and orthodontic pain. Quantitative assessment of somatosensory function may help to provide a better understanding and profiling of the underlying neurobiological mechanisms related to orthodontic pain.