# A pilot study analyzing the influence of the material and the size of the orthodontic archwire on the level of pain and anxiety in adult patients in treatment with brackets: A prospective triple-blind randomized clinical trial

## TL;DR

This study examined whether the material and size of orthodontic archwires affect pain and anxiety in adults using brackets, finding no significant differences between materials.

## Contribution

The study is a pilot clinical trial exploring the impact of archwire material and size on patient-reported pain and anxiety in orthodontic treatment.

## Key findings

- No significant differences in pain or anxiety levels were found between NiTi and Cu-NiTi archwire groups.
- Pain levels peaked at 48 hours and one month after treatment initiation.
- Anxiety levels increased one month after treatment compared to baseline.

## Abstract

The objective was to investigate the influence of the material and dimensions of the orthodontic archwire on the pain and anxiety in adult patients in orthodontic treatment with brackets.

A randomized prospective triple-blind clinical pilot study was conducted at the Dental Clinic of the University of Salamanca. The study sample comprised 30 adult patients who started orthodontic treatment with brackets. This sample was divided into two groups: the NiTi group (n=15) and Cu-NiTi group (n=15). Pain was analyzed with a visual analogue scale (VAS) and anxiety with the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Anxiety was assessed at the start of treatment (T0) and after one month (T1). Pain was analyzed at the start of treatment (T0), at different time points at the start (T01), and after 4 (T02), 24 (T03), and 48 hours (T04); these measurements were also recorded one month after starting orthodontic treatment (T11, T12, T13, and T14).

The mean age of patients was 31.3 (± 6.05) years old. The highest level of pain, at the beginning of treatment, was observed after 48 hours (5.57 ± 1.72) and at one month after starting treatment at 24 hours (5.13 ± 1.89), with no significant differences between the two groups. When analyzing anxiety, no differences were observed between groups; the anxiety levels were higher one month after starting treatment compared to the start. Regarding the correlation between pain and anxiety, the NiTi group showed a greater direct relationship (<0.05) between these two variables at the start of treatment in the anxiety trait in relation to pain at T02 and T03 and after a month in T12, T13, and T14.

In the sample studied, there was no significant influence of the size or material of the orthodontic archwire on pain and anxiety levels.

Key words:Orthodontics, Brackets, Archwire, Pain, Anxiety, NiTi, Cu-NiTi.