Evaluation of Stress and Pain During Rapid Maxillary Expansion Treatments

The aim of this study was to evaluate stres hormone (cortisol) level, pain pressure threshold, state-trait anxiety and reported pain during the expansion and retention phase of rapid maxilary expansion (rme) in children. the sample of this study consists of 10-14 year old a total of 40 patients of which 20 are female and 20 are male. all patients were chosen from applicants who demonstrated either unilateral or bilateral crossbites as a result of maxillary constriction during permanent dentition period and undergone rme. in this research to determine the anxiety levels of the patients “spielberger's state-trait anxiety inventory for children” was used. salivary samples were collected for stress hormone (cortisol) level determination. patients completed two scales and saliva samples were collected before and after first phase of treatment and after retention. visual analog scale was used for pain determination after activation of expansion screw. pain pressure threshold was determined by using algometer before the treatment. the results of this study showed that the differences were statistically significant within-day (p<0.001) and within-hours (p<0.001) in cortisol levels during treatment. pain pressure threshold was statistically significant within sex differences (p<0.05) and skeletal maturity stages (p<0.05). state and trait anxiety scale scores were similar with respect to gender (p >0.05) at all times. there were statistically significant differences of state-trait anxiety levels between pre and posttreatment stages (p<0.05). over the entire course of the expansion, 85% (34/40) of the patients reported pain. pain was reported from the first activation of the expansion screw by the patients. the initial time for the onset of the pain was at t(2), while the number of individuals reporting pain were the mostly found at t(3) and t(4). reduction in the number of individuals were determined beginning from t(5). based on the findings of the presented study, it has been shown that rme treatment leads to changes in patients' state-trait anxiety levels and salivary cortisol levels.