Quality and intensity of pain associated with continuously applied orthodontic stresses of relatively high and low magnitudes

Abstract

The purpose was to assess longitudinally pain intensity and quality during tooth translation by 2 continuous stresses. Eight subjects (five males, 3 females) who required maxillary first premolar extractions had maxillary canines retracted segmentally using 4 kPa on one side and 78 kPa on the other. Subjects scored Modified McGill Pain Questionnaire- Short Forms (MMPQ-SF), Visual Analogue Scales (VAS), and Present Pain Intensities (PPI) for both sides at the beginning of 13 appointments during 4 phases: baseline, post-placement of separators, early and later tooth-loading. Pain intensity (MMPQ-SF, VAS, PPI) and generalized/emotional subscale scores showed no significant differences between stresses. Localized subscale scores were higher for 78 kPa compared to 4 kPa sides. Females tended to report higher VAS and PPI compared to males. Significant differences were found between baseline and post-placement of separators and between baseline and early tooth-loading using MMPQ-SF and localized subscale scores.