A randomized clinical trial investigating pain associated with Bio-kinetic plus nickel–titanium and Conventional nickel-titanium archwires during the initial hours of levelling and aligning the phase of orthodontic treatment

Abstract

Orthodontic force application leads to periodontal ligament tissue injury and the initiation of acute inflammatory processes. Therefore, it is recommended that light force should be used during orthodontic treatment to minimise tissue damage and subsequent pain and discomfort. The present study was aimed to assess the pain perception between two types of nickel-titanium wires. To investigate and compare the effects of Bio-kinetics plus nickel–titanium and conventional nickel-titanium archwires on pain during the initial hours of the initial phase of orthodontic treatment. To compare and evaluate the pain perception using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) between 0.016 Con- ventional NiTi (Group 1) and Bio-Kinetix Plus NiTi (Group 2) at regular intervals of 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours each consisting of a sample size of 7. A total of 14 subjects participated in the study, each group consisting of 7 subjects. The mean pain perception score was 1.71±0.48 and 1.71±0.48 at 0 hours, 2.42±0.97 and 2.71±0.48 at 24 hours, 3.42±0.97 and 2.85±0.69 at 48 hours, 3.85±0.69 and 2.57±0.53 at 72 hours, for Group 1 and Group 2 respectively. There is no significant difference between the two groups, but there is a significant difference (p=0.001) in group 2, by 72 hours, indicating there is a decrease in pain perception. For overall pain, there was no statistically significant difference between the two wires. However, subjects with bio-kinetix plus nickel–titanium archwires had a significantly lower pain at peak level.