Effects of preoperative ibuprofen on pain after separator placement.
BACKGROUND
Many patients experience pain with orthodontics, but there is no widely accepted standard of care for controlling orthodontic pain. Previous studies were inconclusive as to the most effective way to manage orthodontic pain. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness in reducing pain of preemptive ibuprofen added to an ibuprofen regimen administered after separator placement. We also examined the contributions of psychological factors and sex to the experience of pain.


METHODS
The subjects were randomly assigned to group A, 400 mg of ibuprofen 1 hour before separator placement (D1), 3 hours after placement (D2), and 7 hours after placement (D3); group B, placebo at D1, 400 mg of ibuprofen at D2 and D3; or group C, placebo at D1, D2, and D3. Before separator placement, the subjects completed 2 psychological surveys, a masticatory efficiency test, and a visual analog scale for expected pain and experienced pain during the masticatory efficiency test. After placement, the subjects recorded their actual pain, kept a pain diary for 24 hours after separator placement, and performed a 24-hour follow-up masticatory efficiency test.


RESULTS
Group A, receiving ibuprofen before and after separator placement, experienced significantly less pain (P <0.05) at 6 hours, at bedtime, and at awakening on the second day. No contributions to pain were found for psychological factors or sex.


CONCLUSIONS
Preemptive administration of analgesics should be recommended to orthodontic patients before separator placement.
Minor
Valerie
V
Department of Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla 32610-0177, USA.
Marris
C Kary
CK
McGorray
Susan P
SP
Yezierski
Robert
R
Fillingim
Roger
R
Logan
Henrietta
H
Wheeler
Timothy T
TT
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology; D008499:Medical Records; D016382:Orthodontic Appliance Design; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010919:Placebos; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014087:Tooth Movement Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D010919:Placebos; D007052:Ibuprofen