Background: Guided mini implant placement is required for higher accuracy of placement and success. Assessment of pain experience following mini implant placement is required to determine the patient acceptance of the procedure.
Aim: This study was aimed to evaluate the patient pain and discomfort experience following dynamic navigation guided placement of mini implants in the infra zygomatic crest region.
Materials and Methods: This prospective study involved 15 subjects in whom mini implant placement was performed in the infra zygomatic crest region with dynamic navigation guidance. Assessment of pain and discomfort experience with VAS and faces pain rating scale and assessment of daily function and jaw impairment was done with a questionnaire given to the patients after 24 hours. Frequency distribution and statistical analysis involving independent T tests and Mann Whitney U tests were done.
Results: The overall pain scores were 3.40+/-1.68 and discomfort scores were 2.87+/-1.3. On comparing the VAS and discomfort scores among the study participants based on gender no significant differences were noted.(p>0.05) No significant differences in the median distribution of daily activity and jaw function impairment scores among the genders were noted.
Conclusion: Placement of mini implants in the infrazygomatic region under dynamic navigation elicited moderate pain and discomfort. No gender related differences in pain perception were noted and only a few subjects required analgesics for pain management.
Keywords: Dynamic navigation, Mini implants, Pain scores, Infrazygomatic crest, Guided placement.
