Assessment of salivary interleukin-1β (IL-1β), prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) levels and pain intensity in children and adults during initial orthodontic treatment

OBJECTIVES: To investigate pain intensity, interleukin-1β and prostaglandin E(2) values in saliva during initial orthodontic treatment among varying age groups and their correlation between these mediators. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty healthy patients distributed equally in age and gender groups were chosen. Unstimulated saliva was collected before the placement of orthodontic fixed appliance (T(0)), 1 hour after the placement of the appliance with 0.014” nickel titanium archwire (T(1)), 1 month after the first visit (T(2)), and 1 hour after the placement of 0.016” nickel titanium archwire (T(3)). The saliva samples were then analyzed for prostaglandin E(2) and interleukin-1β using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Pain intensity was measured using a numerical rating scale. RESULTS: Prostaglandin E(2) and interleukin-1β levels had increased at T(1) followed by a drop at T(2) and a subsequent increase at T(3). The prostaglandin E(2) and interleukin-1β levels were higher in adults than children. There was an insignificant correlation between the interleukin-1β and prostaglandin E(2) changes in all the patients. No significant differences were seen in pain scores between adults and children. Insignificant correlation was seen between pain scores and prostaglandin E(2) and interleukin-1β. CONCLUSION: Prostaglandin E(2) and interleukin-1β can be detected in saliva and are increased in during the initial orthodontic treatment but are higher in adults than children. Pain intensity was not significantly different between adults and children.