INTRODUCTION: Pain, a common experience reported by orthodontic patients, has its intensity assessed with the help of subjective scales, which have a limited and disputable value. Such unpleasant experience, which may raise stress levels, is reflected by an increase in the salivary concentration of alpha-amylase. OBJECTIVE: Assess the correlation between the salivary levels of alpha-amylase and pain intensity reported by patients during orthodontic treatment. PATIENTS: Twenty male patients (11-37 years of age) were assessed daily, before treatment, after bracket bonding, and after initial arch wire insertion. DESIGN: Saliva was sampled for alpha-amylase analysis, and pain intensity was measured with the visual analog scale. RESULTS: There was no correlation between alpha-amylase concentrations in the saliva and pain intensity, although the patients had a significant and progressive increase of alpha-amylase levels during the assessment period. CONCLUSIONS: The findings may reflect the psychological stress caused by the presence and activation of the fixed appliance. Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
INTRODUCTION:Pain, a common experience reported by orthodontic patients, has its intensity assessed with the help of subjective scales, which have a limited and disputable value. Such unpleasant experience, which may raise stress levels, is reflected by an increase in the salivary concentration of alpha-amylase. OBJECTIVE: Assess the correlation between the salivary levels of alpha-amylase and pain intensity reported by patients during orthodontic treatment. PATIENTS: Twenty male patients (11-37 years of age) were assessed daily, before treatment, after bracket bonding, and after initial arch wire insertion. DESIGN: Saliva was sampled for alpha-amylase analysis, and pain intensity was measured with the visual analog scale. RESULTS: There was no correlation between alpha-amylase concentrations in the saliva and pain intensity, although the patients had a significant and progressive increase of alpha-amylase levels during the assessment period. CONCLUSIONS: The findings may reflect the psychological stress caused by the presence and activation of the fixed appliance. Wiley Periodicals, Inc.