Pain Experience During Rapid Maxillary Expansion: A Prospective Observational Study.

Area of Science:

• Orthodontics
• Pediatric Dentistry
• Pain Management

Background:

• Rapid maxillary expansion (RME) is a common orthodontic treatment for pediatric transverse maxillary deficiency.
• Pain and discomfort are frequently reported during the initial phase of RME.
• Understanding factors influencing pain is crucial for optimizing patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the intensity and temporal pattern of pain in pediatric patients undergoing RME.
• To evaluate the influence of age, sex, maxillary deficit type, expander type, and dental anchorage on pain perception.

Main Methods:

• Prospective observational study of 134 pediatric patients (mean age 8 years).
• Treatment with tooth-borne Haas or Hyrax expanders.
• Daily pain monitoring using the Wong-Baker FACES scale; ANOVA analysis.

Main Results:

• Pain was most intense in the initial treatment days.
• Hyrax expanders and tooth-borne anchorage on first permanent molars caused significantly more initial pain than Haas expanders and anchorage on second primary molars, respectively.
• Unilateral posterior and anterior crossbites, and younger age, were associated with higher pain levels.

Conclusions:

• Expander type, anchorage, maxillary contraction type, and patient age significantly affect pain during pediatric RME.
• Findings offer clinical guidance for selecting expanders and anchorage, and for timing interventions to manage pain effectively.