LOW CERTAINTY OF EVIDENCE SUPPORTS THE APPLICATION OF (AI) FOR THE AUTOMATIC DETECTION OF CEPHALOMETRIC LANDMARKS WITH PROSPECTS FOR IMPROVEMENTS.

ARTICLE TITLE AND BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION: Artificial Intelligence for Detecting Cephalometric Landmarks: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Digit Imaging. 2023 Jun;36(3):1158-1179. doi:10.1007/s10278-022-00766-w. SOURCE OF FUNDING: The study was financed in part by the Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamentode Pessoal de Nivel Superior-Brazil (CAPES)-Finance Code 001. TYPE OF STUDY/DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Reflection on patients' experience with orthodontic appliances wear and its impact on oral health related quality of life: observational comparative study.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to explore and compare patient's experience with the use of a removable functional appliance or fixed orthodontic appliance and its influence on oral health-related quality of life. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This clinical trial included 81 participants having Class II Division 1 and age ranging between 10 and 16 years. The participants were included in any of a three equal groups according to the set inclusion and exclusion criteria; Group 1: patients treated with a Twin-Block functional appliance; Group 2: patients treated with a fixed orthodontic appliance only; and Group 3 (control group): patients not in orthodontic treatment yet. The COHIP SF-19 was used. Patients were given the questionnaire as follows: Group 1: (1) after at least 8 months from starting treatment; (2) after completing phase 1 by 2-3 months without wearing the appliance; Group 2: (1) just before debonding; (2) after finishing the treatment by 2-3 months without any appliances; and Group 3: (1) at the patient's first visit to the orthodontic clinic; (2) after 2-3 months from the first visit to the orthodontic clinic and before starting any treatment. RESULTS: The 81 participants were 31 males and 50 females with median age of 13 years. The total COHIP SF-19 scores at baseline were 57 (49-64), 67 (63-72), and 47 (42-53) for the Twin-Block, the fixed appliance, and the malocclusion groups, respectively. Two-month mean scores adjusted to the baseline scores were 64.82 ± 1.15, 65.65 ± 1.47, and 54.45 ± 1.44 for the Twin-Block, the fixed appliance, and the malocclusion groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Both at baseline and two-months (adjusted to the baseline scores), participants in the malocclusion group showed compromised socio-emotional quality of life and reported the poorest total OHRQoL. At the baseline, better socio-emotional and total OHRQoL was reported by the fixed appliance group compared to the Twin-Block group but, after two months both groups gave similar sores. Therefore; patients' perceptions about their experience with the orthodontic appliance might change.

Comparative Evaluation of Twin Block Appliance and Fixed Orthodontic Appliance in Early Class II Malocclusion Treatment: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

AIMS: To compare skeletal, dentoalveolar, and soft tissue changes between Twin block and early fixed orthodontic appliance for class II division 1 malocclusion treatment through a randomized controlled trial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sample and randomization: This study was a randomized controlled trial with a 1:1 allocation ratio in which 40 patients were divided equally into two groups: control and experimental; each group had an equal number of boys and girls. Randomization was achieved using random blocks of 20 patients with allocation concealed in sequentially numbered, opaque, and sealed envelopes. Blinding was only applicable for data analysis of radiographic measurements. Intervention: Twin block appliance was used in the experimental group for 1 year. However, control group was treated with fixed appliance. Inclusion criteria: Skeletal class II division 1 malocclusion with mandibular retrognathism; cephalometric angular measurements: SNA ≥ 82, SNB ≤ 78, ANB ≥ 4; overjet ≥6 mm; and patient in circumpubertal stage cervical vertebral maturation (CVM2 and CVM3). Parameters for evaluation: Cephalometric skeletal, dental, and soft tissue angular and linear measurements were used for evaluation. RESULTS: SNB increased remarkably by 4° in the Twin block group, but only by 0.68 in the control group. There was a significant decrease in vertical dimensions (SN-GoGn) in the Twin block group compared to control group (p = 0.002). Significant enhancement in the facial profile of the patients was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The Twin block appliance induced significant skeletal and dental changes. These changes were more obvious relative to the slight changes induced by natural growth. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Early treatment of Class II due to mandibular retrusion with Twin block functional appliance is recommended due to its favourable skeletal effect. Early treatment with fixed appliance affects mainly the dentoalveolar component. Long term follow-up is needed for further insights.

MOBILE APP AND SOCIAL MEDIA-BASED INTERVENTIONS MAY HAVE A POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON THE BEHAVIOR OF ORTHODONTIC PATIENTS.

ARTICLE TITLE AND BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION: The influence of mobile applications and social media-based interventions in producing behavior change among orthodontic patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Al-Moghrabi D, Alkadhimi A, Tsichlaki A, Pandis N, Fleming PS. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2022;161(3):338-354. SOURCE OF FUNDING: Deanship of Scientific Research at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. TYPE OF STUDY/DESIGN: Systematic review with meta-analysis.

Root Injury During Interradicular Insertion is the most Common Complication Associated with Orthodontic Miniscrews.

ARTICLE TITLE AND BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION: Complications reported with the use of orthodontic miniscrews: A systematic review. Giudice AL, Rustico L, Longo M, Oteri G, Papadopoulos MA, Nucera R. Korean J Orthod 2021 May 25;51(3):199-216. doi: 10.4041/kjod.2021.51.3.199. PMID: 33984227. SOURCE OF FUNDING: There is no information about funding. TYPE OF STUDY/DESIGN: Systematic review.

ADOLESCENTS WITH REMOVABLE CLASS II CORRECTORS EXPRESS HIGHER DISSATISFACTION AND ARE MORE LIKELY TO DISCONTINUE TREATMENT.

ARTICLE TITLE AND BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION: Pacha MM, Fleming PS, Johal A. Complications, impacts, and success rates of different approaches to treatment of Class II malocclusion in adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2020;158:477-494.e7. doi: 10.1016/j.ajodo.2020.03.021. Epub 2020 Sep 2. PMID: 32888735. SOURCE OF FUNDING: There is no information about funding. TYPE OF STUDY/DESIGN: Systematic review with meta-analysis.

ADDING TEMPORARY ANCHORAGE DEVICES (TADs) TO THE FORSUS™ CLASS II CORRECTION SYSTEM MAY NOT ENHANCE THE SAGITTAL SKELETAL EFFECTS BUT MAY CONTROL THE INCLINATION OF THE MANDIBULAR INCISORS.

ARTICLE TITLE AND BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION: A comparison of the effects of Forsus appliances with and without temporary anchorage devices for skeletal Class II malocclusion. Liu L, Zhan Q, Zhou J, Kuang Q, Yan X, Zhang X, Shan Y, Lai W, Long H. Angle Orthod. 2020 Dec 30. doi:10.2319/051120-421.1. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33378419. SOURCE OF FUNDING: National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82,071,147, 81,571,004, and 81,500,884). TYPE OF STUDY/DESIGN: Systematic review with meta-analysis.

Powered vs manual tooth brushing in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare powered and manual toothbrushes for oral hygiene maintenance in orthodontic patients. METHODS: Electronic databases, including MEDLINE, Scopus, Google scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Oral Health Group's Trials Register, and CENTRAL, were searched without language restrictions. Randomized clinical trials directly comparing manual and powered toothbrushing including patients with fixed orthodontic appliances reporting predefined outcomes with a follow-up period of at least 4 weeks were included. Using predefined data extraction forms, 2 authors independently undertook data extraction with conflict resolution by the third author. Quality assessment was based on the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool, and overall evidence base was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system. A random effects meta-analysis combined the treatment effects across studies. RESULTS: Five trials were considered appropriate for inclusion in the meta-analysis with 8 trials excluded. There are slight differences in plaque index reduction of 0.05 (-0.04, 0.13) and 0.11 (-0.10, 0.33) at 4 week and 8 week follow up, respectively, favoring manual toothbrushing, but this was not statistically significant. There are slight differences in gingival index reduction of -0.02 (-0.06, 0.02) and -0.01 (-0.05, 0.02) at 4 week and 8 week follow up, respectively, favoring powered brushing, but again, this was not statistically significant. The overall quality of evidence was very low to moderate for the primary outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Using manual or powered tooth brushing with fixed orthodontic appliances does not reduce plaque or gingival indexes at 4 weeks and 8 weeks. This conclusion is, however, based on low quality of evidence from few studies. Greater standardization of the methodology used is desirable in future trials to increase our confidence in these findings.

Functional Appliances May Be Effective in Correcting Skeletal Class II Malocclusion in the Long Term; However, the Quality of the Evidence Was Very Low and the Clinical Significance Was Limited.

ARTICLE TITLE AND BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION: Long-term effects of functional appliances in treated versus untreated patients with class II malocclusion: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Cacciatore G, Ugolini A, Sforza C, Gbinigle O, Plüddemann A. PLoS One 14:e0221624. SOURCE OF FUNDING: Authors reported no specific funding for this research study. TYPE OF STUDY/DESIGN: Systematic review with meta-analysis of data.

Craniofacial growth spurt in Class I subjects.

INTRODUCTION: The objective was to study the growth spurt of Class I subjects, focusing on the ability to predict the peak of the growth spurt of the maxillary (Co-A) and mandibular (Co-Pog) lengths from the maturational changes of the cervical vertebrae. METHODS: The longitudinal lateral cephalographs of 14 males (ages, 10-15 years) and 12 females (ages, 9-14 years) were selected from the Craniofacial Growth Studies Legacy Collection of the American Association of Orthodontists Foundation. The cephalographs were taken at regular 1-year intervals. A cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) method that divided skeletal maturation into 6 stages was used for growth prediction. Growth increments calculated for the annual age intervals were used to examine the diagnostic performance of the CVM method. RESULTS: In males, the most peaks for Co-Pog were detected in the CVM3-CVM4 interval in 7 males (50%); for Co-A, the most peaks were found in the CVM2-CVM3 interval in 7 males (50%). In females, the most peaks for both Co-Pog and Co-A were seen in the CVM2-CVM3 interval in 7 females (58%) and in 6 females (50%), respectively. The fewest peaks were detected in CVM4-CVM5 for both males and females. CONCLUSIONS: In Class I subjects with balanced anteroposterior jaw relationships, presence of CVM3 would indicate the peak of the growth spurt, and CVM2 would mean that the peak has not yet arrived. During CVM2, the shapes of cervical vertebrae 3 and 4, whether trapezoid or horizontal rectangular, would indicate whether the subject is in the early CVM2 or is about to be in CVM3.

Racial and sex differences in timing of the cervical vertebrae maturation stages.

INTRODUCTION: Our objective was to investigate skeletal maturation of female and male subjects from different racial groups by comparing the cervical vertebrae maturation (CVM) stages. METHODS: The study included 3 racial groups: white, African American, and Hispanic subjects. Each group was subdivided into female and male. The age range of the subjects was between 7 and 18 years. The sample included 60 lateral cephalographs for each subgroup. Skeletal maturation of the cervical vertebrae was assessed according to a method that described 6 CVM stages. RESULTS: Racial differences were evident in the mean ages of CVM stages 2, 3, 4, and 5 (P = 0.002; P = 0.003; P = 0.001; and P = 0.001, respectively) among females; among males, only stage 3 was different (P = 0.001). Sex differences in the mean ages of stages 1, 2, and 3 in Hispanic subjects (P <0.001), and in stages 2 and 3 in African American subjects (P = 0.019 and P <0.001) and white subjects (P = 0.004 and P <0.001) were detected. CONCLUSIONS: In both sexes, racial differences were not apparent between whites and African Americans, but differences were evident between Hispanics vs both whites and African Americans. Sex differences were apparent between the sexes in each of the 3 ethnic groups in CVM stages 2 and 3. No sex differences were detected in stages 4, 5, or 6 in any of the 3 racial groups. It is recommended to consider racial and sex differences when using the CVM stage as a skeletal maturation indicator.

Secular trends in the timing of skeletal maturation as assessed by the cervical vertebrae maturation method.

Objective: To investigate the presence of secular trends in skeletal maturation of girls and boys as assessed by the use of cervical vertebrae bones. Materials and methods: The study compared two main groups: the first included data collected from the Denver growth study (1930s to 1960s) and the second included data collected from recent pretreatment records (1980s to 2010s) of patients from the orthodontic clinic of a North American University. The records from the two groups were all for Caucasian subjects. The sample for each group included 78 lateral cephalographs for girls and the same number for boys. The age of the subjects ranged from 7 to 18 years. Cervical vertebrae maturation (CVM) stages were directly assessed from the radiographs according to the method described by Hassel and Farman in which six CVM stages were designated from cervical vertebrae 2, 3, and 4. Results: The mean age of girls from the Denver growth study and girls from the university clinic in each of the six CVM stages was not different at P ≤0.05. However, the mean age of boys from the two groups was not different only in stage 3 (P = 0.139) and stage 4 (P = 0.211). Conclusions: The results showed no evidence to indicate a tendency for earlier skeletal maturation of girls or boys. Boys in the university group started their skeletal maturation later than boys in the Denver group and completed their maturation earlier. Gender was a significant factor affecting skeletal maturation stages in both Denver and university groups.

Archwire diameter effect on tooth alignment with different bracket-archwire combinations.

INTRODUCTION: Our objective was to evaluate the effect of the diameter of the archwire on tooth alignment with different bracket-archwire combinations. METHODS: The materials included 2 categories of orthodontic brackets (1) conventional ligating brackets (Victory Series [3M Unitek, Monrovia, Calif], Mini-Taurus [Rocky Mountain Orthodontics, Denver, Colo], and Synergy [Rocky Mountain Orthodontics]) and (2) self-ligating brackets (SmartClip [3M Unitek], a passive self-ligating bracket; Time3 [American Orthodontics, Sheboygan, Wis], an active self-ligating bracket; and SPEED [Strite Industries, Cambridge, Ontario, Canada], an active self-ligating bracket). All brackets had a nominal 0.022-in slot size. The brackets were combined with Therma-Ti 0.014-in and Therma-Ti 0.016-in titanium memory archwires (American Orthodontics). The archwires were tied to the conventional brackets with both stainless steel ligatures (0.010 in) and elastomeric rings. Each bracket-archwire combination was tested 20 times with the orthodontic measurement and simulation system built in a temperature-controlled chamber where the temperature was kept at 37°C (±1°C) during testing. The malocclusion simulated in the study represented a maxillary central incisor displaced 2 mm gingivally (x-axis) and 2 mm labially (z-axis). RESULTS: The incisogingival corrections achieved by the 0.014-in archwire combined with the brackets used ranged from 40% to 95%; the corrections by the 0.016-in wire were 55% to 95%. The labiolingual corrections achieved by the 0.014-in archwire combined with the brackets used ranged from 10% to 100%, and the corrections of the 0.016-in archwires ranged from 15% to 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing the diameter from 0.014 to 0.016 in increased the correction achieved by up to 15% in certain bracket-archwire combinations, but it decreased the correction by up to 25% in other combinations.

Effect of archwire cross-section changes on force levels during complex tooth alignment with conventional and self-ligating brackets.

INTRODUCTION: Our objective was to investigate the effect of archwire cross-section increases on the levels of force applied to teeth during complex malalignment correction with various archwire-bracket combinations using an experimental biomechanical setup. METHODS: The study comprised 3 types of orthodontic brackets: (1) conventional ligating brackets (Victory Series [3M Unitek, Monrovia, Calif] and Mini-Taurus [Rocky Mountain Orthodontics, Denver, Colo]), (2) self-ligating brackets (SmartClip, a passive self-ligating bracket [3M Unitek]; and Time3 [Rocky Mountain Orthodontics, Denver, Colo] and SPEED [Strite Industries, Cambridge, Ontario, Canada], both active self-ligating brackets), and (3) a conventional low-friction bracket (Synergy [Rocky Mountain Orthodontics]). All brackets had a nominal 0.022-in slot size. The brackets were combined with 0.014-in and 0.016-in titanium memory wires, Therma-Ti archwires (American Orthodontics, Sheboygan, Wis). The archwires were tied to the conventional brackets with both stainless steel ligatures of size 0.010-in and elastomeric rings. A malocclusion of the maxillary central incisor displaced 2 mm gingivally (x-axis) and 2 mm labially (z-axis) was simulated. RESULTS: The forces recorded when using the 0.014-in archwires ranged from 1.7 ± 0.1 to 5.0 ± 0.3 N in the x-axis direction, and from 1.2 ± 0.1 to 5.5 ± 0.3 N in the z-axis direction. When we used the 0.016-in archwires, the forces ranged from 2.6 ± 0.1 to 6.0 ± 0.3 N in the x-axis direction, and from 2.0 ± 0.2 to 6.0 ± 0.4 N in the z-axis direction. Overall, the increases ranged from 16.0% to 120.0% in the x-axis and from 10.4% to 130.0% in the z-axis directions. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing the cross section of the wire increased the force level invariably with all brackets. Wires of size 0.014 in produced relatively high force levels, and the force level increased with 0.016-in wires.

Force loss in archwire-guided tooth movement of conventional and self-ligating brackets.

This study aimed to investigate the differences in the force loss during simulated archwire-guided canine retraction between various conventional and self-ligating brackets. Three types of orthodontic brackets have been investigated experimentally using a biomechanical set-up: 1. conventional ligating brackets (Victory Series and Mini-Taurus), 2. self-ligating brackets (SmartClip: passive self-ligating bracket, and Time3 and SPEED: active self-ligating brackets), and 3. a conventional low-friction bracket (Synergy). All brackets had a nominal 0.022″ slot size. The brackets were combined with three rectangular 0.019×0.025″ archwires: 1. Remanium (stainless steel), 2. Nitinol SE (nickel-titanium alloy, NiTi), and 3. Beta III Titanium (titanium-molybdenum alloy). Stainless steel ligatures were used with the conventional brackets. Archwire-guided tooth movement was simulated over a retraction path of up to 4mm using a superelastic NiTi coil spring (force: 1 N). Force loss was lowest for the Victory Series and SmartClip brackets in combination with the steel guiding archwire (35 and 37.6 per cent, respectively) and highest for the SPEED and Mini-Taurus brackets in combination with the titanium wire (73.7 and 64.4 per cent, respectively). Force loss gradually increased by 10 per cent for each bracket type in combination with the different wires in the following sequence: stainless steel, Nitinol, and beta-titanium. Self-ligating brackets did not show improved performance compared with conventional brackets. There was no consistent pattern of force loss when comparing conventional and self-ligating brackets or passive and active self-ligating brackets.

Fluoride-amorphous calcium phosphate and biomimetic nano-hydroxyapatite for enamel remineralization: An in-vitro study of surface microhardness and composition.

AIM: Fluoride-Amorphous Calcium Phosphate and Biomimetic Nano-Hydroxyapatite for Enamel Remineralization; An In-Vitro Study of Surface Microhardness and Composition. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ninety-six extracted human premolars with sound buccal surface were divided using a randomization computer-generating software into four groups; Group I (control) sound untreated enamel, Group II (demineralized) demineralized to create white spot lesions, Group III (biom-n-HA) demineralized and then treated with biomimetic nanohydroxyapatite cream, and Group IV (F-ACP) demineralized and then treated using Fluoride-Amorphous Calcium Phosphate varnish. Each group was divided into two subgroups; subgroup "A" evaluated for mineral content using energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and for surface microhardness using the Vickers microhardness test and Subgroup "B" evaluated for white spot lesion depth using a polarized light microscope (PLM). RESULTS: The highest microhardness (VHN) was found in the (F-ACP) group (mean=428.61±54.43) and then in the (Biom-n-HA) group (mean=408.11±70.16) followed by the (Control) group (mean=402.13±53.40) with no significant difference between them and finally in the significantly different (Demineralized) group (mean=256.99±45.83). The weight percentage of Ca (30.29±1.04 and 33.44±1.07) and Ca/P ratio (1.87±0.06 and 2.03±0.05) were significantly different between Group III and Group IV respectively. PLM measurements in Group II (198.83µm), Group III (60.17µm), and Group IV (26.33µm) were significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: Both the (Biom-n-HA) cream and the (F-ACP) varnish showed promising results for enamel remineralization. The increased enamel surface microhardness was consistent with the mineral content and the changes in the birefringence.

Force levels in complex tooth alignment with conventional and self-ligating brackets.

INTRODUCTION: The force applied to the teeth is a variable of orthodontic treatment that can be controlled. Poor control of the applied force can lead to adverse biologic effects as well as undesirable tooth movements. The selected archwire-bracket combination is a primary determining factor in the force level applied to a tooth during orthodontic treatment. The aim of this research was to use an experimental biomechanical setup to measure forces generated during complex orthodontic tooth movements with various archwire-bracket combinations. METHODS: The materials consisted of 3 types of 0.022-in slot orthodontic brackets: (1) conventional brackets (Victory Series [3M Unitek, Monrovia, Calif] and Mini-Taurus [Rocky Mountain Orthodontics, Denver, Colo]), (2) self-ligating brackets (SmartClip [3M Unitek] and Time3 [American Orthodontics, Shegoygan, Wis]), and (3) a conventional low-friction bracket (Synergy [Rocky Mountain Orthodontics]); and 4 archwire types: (1) 0.012-in stainless steel (3M Unitek), (2) 0.0155-in coaxial (Advanced Orthodontics [Näpflein, Düsseldorf, Germany]), (3) 0.012-in Orthonol (Rocky Mountain Orthodontics), and (4) 0.012-in Thermalloy (Rocky Mountain Orthodontics). Stainless steel ligatures and elastomeric rings were used. The materials were used in different combinations in a simulated malocclusion that represented a maxillary central incisor displaced 2 mm gingivally (x-axis) and 2 mm labially (z-axis). RESULTS: The lowest forces were measured when the brackets were combined with either the coaxial or the Thermalloy archwires; the forces ranged from 3.4 ± 0.2 to 0.7 ± 0.1 N in the x-axis direction, and from 4.5 ± 0.3 to 0.5 ± 0.1 N in the z-axis direction. The highest forces were measured in combination with stainless steel archwires; the forces ranged from 6.3 ± 0.3 to 3.0 ± 0.1 N in the x-axis direction, and from 6.3 ± 0.3 to 1.7 ± 0.1 N in the z-axis direction. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend 0.0155-in coaxial and 0.012-in Thermalloy archwires for leveling and alignment. Elastomeric rings, when used with conventional brackets, increased the force applied to the teeth.

Acupressure versus NSAID for relief of orthodontic pain : A randomized controlled clinical trial.

AIM: To compare ibuprofen and acupressure for pain relief after insertion of elastomeric orthodontic separators. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized control clinical trial was conducted in an orthodontic clinic. A total of 75 orthodontic patients aged 12-16 years participating in the study were randomly allocated to receive either 400 mg of oral ibuprofen, applying acupressure therapy, or no pain-relief approach. Pain scores were recorded on visual analog scales (10 cm) over a week at different times (4, 10, 18, 24 h, and 1 week). The margin of equivalence was defined as 10 mm. RESULTS: For all timepoints, the control group recorded the highest pain. For the ibuprofen and acupressure group, after 4 h, 18 h, and 1 week, no significant difference was noted. However, after 10 h, no significant difference in pain between the control and acupressure groups was noted and the ibuprofen group showed significantly lower pain. In the acupressure group, the highest pain was noted at 10 h. After this timepoint, pain progressively decreased with time and the lowest pain was noted after 1 week. In the control and ibuprofen groups, the highest pain was after 4 h, and then progressively decreased with time and the lowest pain was noted after 1 week. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in pain perception between participants using ibuprofen or acupressure and both groups recorded significantly lower pain than the control group at most of the observed timepoints. Results support the analgesic effect of the acupressure approach.