Perception of pain and discomfort from elastomeric separators in Saudi adolescents

OBJECTIVE: To examine the patient's perception of pain and discomfort following the placement of elastomeric separators in Saudi adolescents.

METHODS: The study was conducted on 38 adolescent patients who received fixed orthodontic treatment. The data was collected through the use of a self-administrated questionnaire that was distributed to the patients by one investigator in a non-clinical setting. The evaluation of pain started from the fourth hour after placement of elastomeric separators, and continued until the fifth day.

RESULTS: The data showed that after 4 hours from separator placement, 94.7% of patients reported pain. There was a daily decrease in these percentages starting from the third day. The type of pain during the first 2 days was continuous, then continued to be intermittent pain. Most of the patients reported pain during eating and chewing, changed their food habit, and used analgesics. No statistical differences were observed between male and female patients in pain perception, type of pain, analgesic consumption, and influences on chewing and food consistency.

CONCLUSION: The pain associated with orthodontic separation starts and peaks within 4-48 hours from separator placement, then starts to decline to reach the lowest level on fifth day.