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Clinical comparison of pain: Self-ligating versus conventional fixed orthodontic appliance systems

Background: Orthodontic treatment is always taken as a painful procedure. Pain from orthodontic treatment has been shown to have negative effects on oral hygiene efforts and to be a major reason for missing appointments. Materials and Methods: Thirty consecutive eligible patients were alternated between two groups. Group I individuals were bonded with 0.022-inch preadjusted edgewise brackets. Group II individuals were bonded with self-ligating brackets. At the end of the first appointment, the patients were given printed sheets to record visual analogue scale (VAS) scores. Discomfort was assessed again at the first wire change as to whether one side was more or less comfortable when untied and when the new wire was ligated. Results: The minimum VAS score recorded was 0 and the maximum VAS score recorded in Group I was 5 and in Group II 6. The pain characteristic “while biting” was most commonly reported; none reported shooting pain. Conclusion: Engagement of archwire with both conventional ligating and self-ligating brackets causes pain, the difference between the two groups was statistically insignificant. After placement of the second archwire, more number of patients in SLB Group reported no pain, the measure mean intensity of pain was higher in conventional ligating group as compared to SLB Group; however, the difference between the two groups was statistically insignificant. The intensity of pain did not show any specific peaks. Patients rated disengagement of archwire as being not painful in both groups in the present study.