Pain Perception to Orthodontic Tooth Movement during Menstrual Cycle: A Clinical Study

Abstract

Pain during orthodontic treatment is inevitable side effect. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the orthodontist to alleviate this pain as possible. Menstrual cycle is often a painful event to female. Female is the most of orthodontic patient. Hence, study the pain perception of female to orthodontic treatment during menstrual cycle is essential. Aim: the aim of the present study is to asses, if there is change in pain perception to orthodontic tooth movement during menstrual cycle. Seventeen healthy female with regular menstrual cycle intended to receive orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances were participated in the study. Elastomeric separators were placed mesial and distal to maxillary and mandibular first molars during the menstrual and postmenstrual period respectively. Visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess pain perception at 4 hours, 24 hours, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th days after the separators were placed. Data of VAS scores were statistically analyzed. There were statistically significant increase in the pain perception level after the insertion of separators during menstrual cycle period and decrease during postmenstrual period. During menstrual cycle, female experienced higher pain perception to orthodontic tooth movement. Hence, it is better to postpone orthodontic visits for female patients to postmenstrual period.