A survey of perception of pain and discomfort with elastomeric separators in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment in Western Maharashtra region

Abstract

Aim: The aim is to determine the perception of pain and discomfort by the patient during the placement of orthodontic separators. Materials and Methods: Elastomeric separators were placed in randomly selected 100 patients for fixed orthodontic mechanotherapy. Visual analog scale was used to register the patient's pain perception during the placement of elastomeric separators and continued subsequently on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th day. Results: The data show 41.3% of urban and 53.7% of the rural population of the patients reported pain during the placement of separators. Until the 1st day, in the urban, 53.04% of patients and in the rural population, 48.15% of patients reported pain. In the urban population, 30.43% of patients and in the rural population, 25.93% consumed analgesics. Conclusion: The pain associated peaks within 4–48 hr from separator placement, and then declines to reach its lowest level on the 5th day. Since pain of moderate intensity occurs during the treatment, analgesics and soft food are recommended.