Effects of Anxiety and Daytime Clenching on Orthodontic Pain Perception

Objectives: This study assessed the relationship between anxiety and oral parafunctional behaviours in individuals with and without orofacial pain; and whether the relationship between anxiety and orthodontic tooth pain is dependent upon wake-time tooth clenching. Methods: The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Oral Behaviour Checklist (OBC) and TMD-Pain Screener were completed by 255 students with (n=47, 24.8±4.2 years) and without (n=208; 26.0±4.8 years) TMD pain. STAI score distribution was examined and 45 volunteers (26.0±3.4 years) with low-, intermediate-, and high-anxiety were recruited and submitted to experimental orthodontic-tooth-movement. Results: A significant effect of the interaction group*trait anxiety on OBC scores was found (p=0.028). A significant effect of the interaction clenching*study group*day on tooth-pain was found (pM.Sc