TY - JOUR AU - Poudel, Prakash AU - Dahal, Sirjana AU - Thapa, Vivek Bikram PY - 2020/06/30 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Pain and Oral Health Related Quality of LIfe among Patients Undergoing Fixed Orthodontic Treatment: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study JF - Journal of Nepal Medical Association JA - J Nepal Med Assoc VL - 58 IS - 226 SE - Original Article DO - 10.31729/jnma.4817 UR - https://www.jnma.com.np/jnma/index.php/jnma/article/view/4817 SP - 400-404 AB - <p><strong>Introduction</strong>: Fixed orthodontic procedures such as separator placement, archwire placement and<br>activations, application of orthopaedic forces, and debonding of brackets produce pain in patients.<br>This study was conducted to assess pain and oral health-related quality of life among patients<br>undergoing orthodontic treatment.</p><p><br><strong>Methods</strong>: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 152 orthodontic patients of<br>a teritary care center from January 2019 to October 2019 after receiving ethical approval from the<br>Institutional Review Committee (Ref. no. 2311201813). Convenience sampling method was done to<br>select the participants. Oral health-related quality of life using “Oral Health Impact Profile-14” and<br>pain experienced during the first month of fixed orthodontic treatment were assessed. Data analysis<br>for calculation of frequency and proportion was done in Statistical Package of Social Sciences.</p><p><br><strong>Results</strong>: Mean pain score of the study participants was 5.05±2.07 and their mean oral health impact<br>was 12.71±7.27. Most of the study participants 86 (56.58%), had experienced moderate pain due to<br>orthodontic treatment. Out of the reported impacts, 134 (88.2%) had painful aching in mouth and 127<br>(83.6%) had difficulty during eating. Least impact was seen in alteration of taste 35 (23%).</p><p><br><strong>Conclusions</strong>: The pain intensity experienced by patients was variable. Most participants had<br>moderate pain but few patients perceived no pain at all. The participants had at least one or other<br>oral health impacts due to fixed orthodontic treatment. Orthodontists should counsel the patients<br>regarding possible discomfort so that there is no discontinuation of treatment due to pain.</p> ER -