Effect of acetaminophen on relieving orthodontic pain with clear aligner based on GAD-7: A retrospective research

Patients may have uncomfortable feelings during orthodontic treatment, which can directly lead to dissatisfaction. So in order to improve the patient's sense of pleasure during the treatment, it would be of great benefit if orthodontic pain can be relieved.

We included 150 patients wearing clear aligners from 18 to 30 years old during 2018-2020. Then designed following groups to determine the effectiveness of both verbal behavior modification and combination therapy with acetaminophen in reducing treatment pain: Group A, generalized anxiety disorder 7 (GAD-7) scored 0-4; Group B, GAD-7 scored 5-9; Group C, GAD-7 scored 10-14; and Group D, GAD-7 scored 15-21.

There was a difference in the visual analog scale (VAS) between verbal behavior modification with and without a 300-mg acetaminophen tablet oral QD in Group A (received the intervention at 8 h and 1 d), Group B at 8 h and 1 d, Group C at 8 h, 1 d, 2 d, and 3 d, and Group D at 8 h, 1 d, 2 d, 3 d, and 4 d. After 8 h, 1 d, 2 d, 3 d, and 4 d in patients with verbal behavior modification, VAS was markedly increased in Group D compared with Group A, B and C. Furthermore, after 8 h and 1 d in patients with verbal behavior modification and 300-mg acetaminophen tablet oral QD, VAS was strongly enhanced in Group D.

Dental anxiety is strongly associated with pain in orthodontic patients receiving clear aligners. Acetaminophen administration may be a benefit in orthodontic pain that results from clear aligners, especially in the group with more GAD-7.