Patient‐reported pain intensity or pain relief (VAS, NRS or categorical scale) · People undergoing orthodontic treatment (any age; 9 to 34 years in included studies)
Analgesic (any: NSAID, paracetamol, local anaesthetic or opioid) probably leads to lower pain intensity (VAS 0-100 mm) compared with control (placebo or no treatment) (moderate certainty).
3 findings from 1 review
MD -11.66 [-16.15, -7.17]
10 studies · 685 participants
Moderate
MD -21.19 [-28.31, -14.06]
12 studies · 1012 participants
Moderate
MD -24.27 [-31.44, -17.11]
9 studies · 535 participants
Moderate
Patient‐reported pain intensity or pain relief (VAS, NRS or categorical scale) · People undergoing orthodontic treatment (any age; 9 to 34 years in included studies)
It is very uncertain whether ibuprofen taken pre-emptively (about 1 hour before treatment) changes pain intensity (VAS 0-100 mm) compared with ibuprofen taken post-treatment (very low certainty).
3 findings from 1 review
MD -9.74 [-47.88, 28.40]
2 studies · 69 participants
Very low
MD -11.30 [-16.27, -6.33]
1 study · 41 participants
Very low
MD -8.43 [-30.37, 13.50]
2 studies · 69 participants
Very low
Patient‐reported pain intensity or pain relief (VAS, NRS or categorical scale) · People undergoing orthodontic treatment (any age; 9 to 34 years in included studies)
NSAID (systemic) showed no clear difference in pain intensity (VAS 0-100 mm) compared with paracetamol (low certainty).
3 findings from 1 review
MD -5.17 [-11.71, 1.37]
7 studies · 664 participants
Low
MD -0.51 [-8.93, 7.92]
9 studies · 734 participants
Low
MD -2.92 [-8.48, 2.65]
7 studies · 664 participants
Low
Patient‐reported pain intensity or pain relief (VAS, NRS or categorical scale) · People undergoing orthodontic treatment (any age; 9 to 34 years in included studies)
It is very uncertain whether topical NSAID (ketoprofen chewing gum) changes pain intensity (VAS 0-100 mm) compared with local anaesthetic (benzocaine chewing gum) (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Discomfort/pain · Adolescents and adults with malocclusion undergoing fixed orthodontic appliance treatment
It is very uncertain whether light-emitting diode (LED) photobiomodulation changes patient perception of pain and discomfort (VAS 0 to 100 mm) compared with conventional orthodontic appliance treatment (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Discomfort/pain · Adolescents and adults with malocclusion undergoing fixed orthodontic appliance treatment
It is very uncertain whether low level laser therapy (LLLT) changes patient perception of pain and discomfort (VAS 0 to 100 mm) compared with conventional orthodontic appliance treatment (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Discomfort/pain · Adolescents and adults with malocclusion undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed or removable appliances
Light vibrational forces (LVF) showed no clear difference in patient perception of pain and discomfort (VAS 0 to 100 mm),… compared with conventional orthodontic appliance treatment (placebo or no adjunct) (low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review