A Comparison of Two Visual Analogue Scales, One Specific for Orthodontic Discomfort

Few studies have investigated the post-adjustment discomfort which is common to orthodontic treatment. To date, an instrument used to measure orthodontic discomfort specifically has not been reported in the literature. The purpose of this study was to compare a discomfort scale designed specifically for orthodontics to a typical general pain scale currently used. A 100 millimeter Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) format, proven to be reliable and valid by several investigators of pain,was used in this study. Fifty-three adult test subjects wore alastic orthodontic separators in order to generate discomfort for a total of three days. Subjects were asked to respond to the pain scales during twelve scheduled times over the course of the three days. Subjects were randomly assigned into two groups. One group used the general pain scale (Scale 1) to record their pain levels, while the other group used the new orthodontic pain scale (Scale 2). The mean VAS score for Scale 1 was 22.81 and for Scale 2 was 44.20. The results demonstrateded a statistically significant difference between Scale 1 and Scale 2 at eleven of the twelve measurement points. No statistically significant differences were found on the basis of gender. Pain patterns were also examined. The present study indicates that the new orthodontic discomfort scale may provide a unique tool that is a sensitive instrument in the assessment of pain in orthodontics, and that differences do not exist in the adult population between males and females with regard to reportable pain tolerance