Practicing "Evidence-Based" Orthodontics @ OSL
"Will it hurt to get braces?" Most of us remember getting started and
"bracing" for the expected discomfort. We're instructed to eat soft foods, take
pain medications (NSAIDs like ibuprofen, etc.) and take good care of the braces. A
week later (if we're adolescents) we are back to normal.
The ibuprofen we recommend @ OSL is biochemically designed to "wash-out" the
pain chemicals around your teeth, thus relieving the inflammation...
...What if you want to avoid the side-effects of, or cannot take
ibuprofen? What else besides drugs would be effective at relieving discomfort?
Is it evidenced-based?
A recent randomized clinical trial was done to investigate the efficacy of
ibuprofen, chewing gum (sugar-free), and viscoelastic wafers during the first week
after initial arch wire placement. The 50 participants were asked to fill in
surveys and were divided into 5 groups; All were female, ages 13-18 years, and
had full braces placed.
Group #1 Placebo - asked to take Vitamin B6 immediately after wires were
placed, and at 8 hour intervals for a week if discomfort persisted*
Group #2 Ibuprofen - asked to take Ibuprofen, per schedule above*
*NOTE - Group #1 and #2 did not know what drug they were taking.
Group #3 Chewing gum - asked to chew sugar-free gum per schedule above
Group #4 Soft viscoelastic wafer - asked to chew on wafer for 5 minutes per
schedule above
Group #5 Hard viscoelastic wafer - asked to chew on wafer for 5 minutes per
schedule above
The Results:
1. For all groups the intensity of the pain increased from 2 hours after
wire placement to 24 hours, then decreased.
2. Bite wafer chewing was more effective than ibuprofen, and more effective
than the placebo for reducing discomfort.
3. Chewing gum was also more effective than a placebo for reducing
discomfort.
Contact us at OSL if you want more information. Check with me next month
for more "Evidence-Based" orthodontic info. Thanks!
Ref:
Farzanegan, F., Zebarjad S.M. Pain reduction after initial archwire
placement in orthodontic patients:A randomized clinical trial. AJODO 2012;141.
169-173
