EFFECTS OF ORTHODONTIC PAIN ON QUALITY OF LIFE OF PATIENTS IN PAKISTAN

Introduction: In orthodontics, researchers have assessed health-related quality of life (OHRQOL) in connection with orthodontic treatment outcomes; however, research on orthodontic patients QOL during their treatment is scarce. Objectives of the study: The main objective and focus of the study was to evaluate the effects of orthodontic pain on quality of life of patients in Pakistan. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted in DHQ hospital Gujranwala during 2018. The data were collected from 100 individuals of both genders. The exclusion criteria were patients with severe skeletal pattern (Class II or category III) UN agency needed orthognathic surgery and syndromic patients (cleft lips or surface or both). Patients were asked to complete questionnaires and to answer questions about pain and discomfort they had experienced during 1 month after the appliance insertion. Results: The statistical significances of the differences between the groups were evaluated using the nonparametric tests. The paired means in time period analysis were statistically compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Chi-squared statistics was used to evaluate the statistical significance of the differences in prevalence between groups. P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Ninety-five percent patients felt pain or discomfort. After 1 day of appliance placement, more than 85% of patients experienced severe to mild pain whereas 9% of patients suffered very severe pain. Conclusion: It is concluded that pain is one of the primary reasons for patients' noncompliance and is a major reason for missing appointments, which affects the quality of treatment and a significant factor affecting the OHRQOL of orthodontic patients