title: Influence of activation protocol on perceived pain during rapid maxillary expansion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the influence of two different activation protocols on the timing and intensity of pain during rapid maxillary expansion (RME).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 112 prepubertal patients (54 males and 58 females, mean age 11.00 ± 1.80 years) with constricted maxillary arches underwent RME with two different activation protocols (group 1: one activation/day; group 2: two activations/day). Patients were provided with a numeric rating scale (NRS) and the Faces Pain Scale (FPS) to correctly assess their daily pain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects treated with RME at two activations/day reported statistically significantly greater amounts of pain than subjects treated with RME at one activation/day. Differences related to gender and skeletal maturity were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The choice of activation protocol influences the perceived pain during RME, and less daily expansion is correlated to less pain. Pain reported during RME could be influenced by skeletal maturity and gender of the subjects under treatment.
authors.affiliation: a   PhD Student, Department of Orthodontics, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baldini
authors.affiliation: a   PhD Student, Department of Orthodontics, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nota
authors.affiliation: b   Postgraduate Student, Department of Orthodontics, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Santariello
authors.affiliation: c   Statistician, Edinburgh Clinical Trials Unit (ECTU), University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Assi
authors.affiliation: a   PhD Student, Department of Orthodontics, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ballanti
authors.affiliation: d   Professor and Department Chair, Department of Orthodontics, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cozza
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010155:Palatal Expansion Technique / Q000009:adverse effects*
keywords: Orthodontic appliance; Pain; Rapid maxillary expansion; Rapid palatal expansion