Published online Mar 27, 2016. doi: 10.5313/wja.v5.i1.28
Peer-review started: May 19, 2015
First decision: September 2, 2015
Revised: November 4, 2015
Accepted: November 24, 2015
Article in press: November 25, 2015
Published online: March 27, 2016
Processing time: 315 Days and 22.1 Hours
Most of the orthodontic patients experience pain during treatment and this significantly influences their attitudes and the approach towards treatment. A number of factors that influence pain response include age, gender, personal pain threshold, mood and stress level of the person, cultural differences and types of orthodontic treatment. Pain is a often overlooked subject by orthodontists, it is nevertheless important to understand the source and mechanism of the pain that occurs during treatment, as well as the methods for managing and controlling this pain. This review attempts to overview the mechanism, duration and current management strategies of orthodontic treatment.
Core tip: Pain during orthodontic treatment is an important concern for both clinicians and patients. Although it is not possible to completely eliminate pain during orthodontic treatment, it is still necessary to understand its causes and to minimize it to the greatest extent possible.