title: Self-reported pain after orthodontic treatments: a randomized controlled study on the effects of two follow-up procedures.
abstract: To assess the effects of a follow-up text message and a telephone call after bonding on participants' self-reported level of pain.
  
  
  
  Eighty-four participants were randomly assigned to one of three trial arms. Randomization was performed by the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics of IRCCS G.Gaslini. Participants were enrolled from patients with a permanent dentition who were beginning fixed no extraction treatment at the Orthodontic Department, Gaslini Hospital. Participants completed baseline questionnaires to assess their levels of pain prior to treatment. After the initial appointment, participants were completed a pain questionnaire at the same time, daily, for 7 days. The first group, served as control, did not receive any post-procedure communication; the second group received a structured text message; and the third group received a structured telephone call. Participants were blinded to group assignment.
  
  
  
  A larger sample size should have been considered in order to increase the ability to generalize this study's results.
  
  
  
  Participants in both the telephone call group and the text message group reported lower level of pain than participants in the control group with a larger and more consistent effect for the telephone call group. Most participants reported a higher level of pain during the first 48 hours post-bonding. The analgesic's consumption significantly correlated with the level of pain during the previous 24 hours. Female participants appeared to be more sensitive to pain than male participants.
  
  
  
  A telephone follow-up after orthodontic treatment may be an effective procedure to reduce participants' level of pain.
  
  
  
  The research protocol was approved by the Italian Comitato Etico Regionale della Liguria-sezione 3^ c/o IRCCS- Istituto G.Gaslini 845/2014.
  
  
  
  182 Reg 2014, 16/09/2014 Comitato Etico Regione Liguria, Sez.3.
authors.affiliation: *School of Dental Medicine, University of Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cozzani
authors.affiliation: *School of Dental Medicine, University of Cagliari, Italy, giuliaragazzini84@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ragazzini
authors.affiliation: *School of Dental Medicine, University of Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Delucchi
authors.affiliation: *School of Dental Medicine, University of Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barreca
authors.affiliation: **Center for Orthodontics, Seton Hill University, Greensburg, PA, USA, Departments of.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Rinchuse
authors.affiliation: ***Dentistry and.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Servetto
authors.affiliation: ****Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Ist. G. Gaslini, Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Calevo
authors.affiliation: *****School of Dental Medicine, University of Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Piras
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000359:Aftercare / Q000379:methods*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D001840:Dental Bonding / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D058748:Pain Perception / Q000502:physiology; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone; D060145:Text Messaging
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics