Pain prevention and management during orthodontic treatment as perceived by patients.

Aim: The experience of pain is considered a major issue during active orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances. The objective of this study was to indirectly and retrospectively evaluate patients' perceptions of orthodontists' awareness to their pain during active orthodontic treatment.

Methods: A structured questionnaire was distributed to 100 patients undergoing active orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances. The patients were treated by at least 35 orthodontists. The questionnaire accessed information regarding instructions the patients received from their orthodontist concerning pain management during and following treatment.

Results: Most of the patients (83%) reported that their orthodontist informed them about expected pain during orthodontic treatment. Fifty-nine percent informed their orthodontist of pain during treatment (64% girls and 33% boys). Only 21% of the patients were recommended to take analgesic to relieve the pain and only 7% patients received a prescription for an analgesic to relieve their pain.

Conclusion: Orthodontists should consider prescribing analgesics more frequently.