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Auriculotherapy used to manage orthodontic pain: a randomized controlled pilot study
Emanuela Serritella1, Alessandra Impellizzeri1, Aldo Liguori2
1"Sapienza" University of Rome, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences (Rome, Italy).
Dental Press Journal of Orthodontics
|December 21, 2021
Summary
Auriculotherapy (AT) significantly reduced orthodontic pain in patients undergoing fixed appliance treatment. This alternative therapy offers a promising approach to managing pain during orthodontic care.
Area of Science:
- Orthodontics
- Pain Management
- Complementary Therapies
Background:
- Orthodontic pain management lacks versatile tools and standardized protocols.
- Conventional analgesics have limitations.
- Alternative pain relief methods are needed for orthodontic patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the analgesic effects of auriculotherapy (AT).
- To assess AT's efficacy during the initial three months of fixed orthodontic treatment.
Main Methods:
- 36 patients were randomly assigned to a Study Group (AT) or Control Group (no AT).
- Pain was assessed monthly using Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) at multiple time points.
- Statistical analysis included Student's t-test and Chi-square test (p<0.05).
Main Results:
- The AT group reported significantly lower pain levels than the control group.
- Average pain intensity was lower across all measured time points in the AT group.
- Statistical significance (p<0.05) was observed for most time points.
Conclusions:
- Auriculotherapy demonstrated effectiveness in managing pain associated with fixed orthodontic appliances.
- Further research with a sham control group is recommended to validate these findings.
