Assessment of anxiety, pain level and patients' comfort during clearcorrect aligner treatment

The aim of this thesis study was to assess the pain level, anxiety and patients's comfort and personality traits during ClearCorrect Aligner treatment. A total of 20 subjects, 12 females and 8 males, treated at Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Orthodontics were included in the study. Pain levels were evaluated using the VAS scale applied at 0, 2 and 6 hours and on days 1, 3, 7 and 10. State and trait anxiety scores were determined with the STAI-S and STAI- T questionnaires, and quality of life scores were analyzed with the OHIP-14 and OHRQoL-UK questionnaires administered before treatment, after the first aligner was applied, at 6 months and at the end of treatment. Personality traits were assessed only at the beginning of treatment with the BFI-2 questionnaire. Pain reached its maximum level at the end of the 1st day and then decreased to the baseline level on the 7th day in all individuals. A significant decrease was observed in state anxiety scores from the beginning to the end of treatment, whereas no significant change was sees in trait anxiety scores. A negative correlation was found between openness to experience and quality of life scores at 6 months, and between conscientiousness and trait anxiety scores at 6 months and after the first aligner application. The pain reached its maximum level on day 1 and decreased afterwards, state anxiety scores decreased towards the end of treatment and quality of life was not affected after ClearCorrect aligner treatment. Key Words: VAS scale, STAI-S, STAI-T, OHIP-14, OHRQoL-UK, BFI-2