title: Pain, masticatory performance and swallowing threshold in orthodontic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess pain, masticatory performance and swallowing threshold of patients undergoing orthodontic treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients of both genders (mean age of 17.25 ± 5.21 years), with complete permanent dentition, who underwent orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances were evaluated. The masticatory performance and the swallowing threshold were assessed by patient's individual capacity of fragmenting an artificial test food (Optocal) which was chewed and had the resulting particles processed by a standardized sieving method, presenting the median particle size (MPS) of crushed units. The intensity of pain / discomfort during chewing was evaluated by means of a visual analog scale. All tests were performed at the following times: T0 - before activating the orthodontic appliance; T1 - 24 hours after activation, and T2 - 30 days after activation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed a significant increase in pain at T1 (T0 = 0.60 ± 0.70 mm; T1 = 66.2 ± 34.5 mm), returning to baseline values at T2 (3.20 ± 3.82 mm). Masticatory performance was also reduced in T1 (MPS = 10.15 ± 1.1 mm2) in comparison to T0 (MPS 7.01 ± 2.9 mm2) and T2 (MPS 6.76 ± 1.3 mm2). However, particle size was not affected in the swallowing threshold test (T0 = 5.47 ± 2.37 mm2; T1 = 6.19 ± 2.05 mm2; T2 = 5.94 ± 2.36 mm2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The orthodontic appliances did not interfere in the size of the particles that would be swallowed, even in the presence of pain.
authors.forename: Marcos Porto
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Trein
authors.forename: Karina Santos
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Mundstock
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maciel
authors.forename: Jaqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rachor
authors.forename: Gustavo Hauber
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Gameiro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology*; D003722:Dental Alloys / Q000737:chemistry; D020724:Elastomers / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology*; D009532:Nickel / Q000737:chemistry; D009967:Orthodontic Appliances; D009969:Orthodontic Wires; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010316:Particle Size; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D013193:Stainless Steel / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D003722:Dental Alloys; D020724:Elastomers; C040654:titanium nickelide; D013193:Stainless Steel; D009532:Nickel; D014025:Titanium
keywords: Malocclusion; Mastication; Orthodontics