Evaluation of Postoperative Pain and Discomfort in Patients Undergoing Surgical Exposure of Impacted Maxillary Canines

Abstract

Introduction In orthodontic practices impacted maxillary canines (IMC) are quite frequent, with up to 23.5% of cases [1]. Combined surgical-orthodontic treatment is commonly used to resolve this condition, however it causes discomfort and postoperative pain [2]. Patients need to be informed about the procedures that will be performed, especially about the pain and discomfort they cause [3]. Aim To evaluate pain and discomfort related to surgical exposure of impacted maxillary canines. Methods Permit (No BEC-OF-128) was obtained from the Bioethics Centre of LUHS to perform a retrospective study. Data of 25 patients (17 female, 8 male) with the mean age of 15 (range 12-21), treated with combined surgical-orthodontic approach was analyzed retrospectively. Data was obtained from pre-treatment CBCT and discomfort evaluation questionnaire, created based on previous studies [3-5]. The questions included: level of discomfort during surgery (0-10), level of pain (0-10) in the evening, one, two days and a week after surgery. CBCT analysis consisted of evaluation of IMC mesiodistal inclination, horizontal, vertical dislocation from alveolar process edge, labiopalatal localization, length of IMC eruption path [6,7]. IBM SPSS Statistics software was used. To carry out research objectives a non-parametric Spearman correlation coefficient, Mann-Whitney U test, intraclass correlation coefficient and Cohen's Kappa coefficient were used. Value of p<0.05 was considered statistically significant Results Average level of discomfort during the procedure was 2.8 (SD=2.3). Pain level the evening after the surgery was 3.3 (SD=2.1), on the second day - 2.8 (SD=2.7), the third day – 1.7 (SD=2.2), a week after, the average pain level was 0.5 (SD=0.8).[…].