An interventional study of Acupressure and Ibuprofen 400 mg (if necessary) in Malocclusion, sponsored by Bahria University. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 15 Years to 35 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-11.
Sponsored by Bahria University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The goal of this clinical trial is to find out which method works best to reduce pain after braces are adjusted for the first time (when the first archwire is placed). The study will compare three approaches: acupressure (applying pressure on a specific point on the hand), ibuprofen (a pain-relief medicine), and chewing sugar-free gum. It will also check how safe these methods are and whether patients need extra pain medicine.
The main questions the researchers want to answer are:
Which method reduces orthodontic pain the most after the first archwire is placed? Do patients need extra painkillers in any of the groups? Are there any problems with braces (such as loose brackets or wire issues) within the first week?
Researchers will compare the three groups to see which option gives the best pain relief during the first few days after braces are activated.
Participants will:
Be placed into one of three groups: acupressure, ibuprofen, or chewing gum Use their assigned method after their first orthodontic wire is placed Rate their pain at different time points using a simple pain scale (VAS) Report if they take any extra pain medicine Be checked for any brace-related problems for up to 7 days
This study may help improve comfort and pain management for patients starting orthodontic treatment.
323 studies on the registry are indexed under Malocclusion; 85 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 105 is above the median of 37 across 242 interventional studies indexed under Malocclusion.
Browse Malocclusion studies →Bahria University is the lead sponsor of 36 studies on the registry; 11 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants in this arm will receive instructions on the use of acupressure for orthodontic pain management following placement of the initial archwire. Verbal instructions and a standardized advice sheet will be provided. Participants will be trained to apply steady, perpendicular pressure using the thumb of the opposite hand to the LI4 (Hegu) acupressure point for approximately 3 minutes. The location of the LI4 point will be demonstrated and identified as the point on the dorsum of the hand between the first and second metacarpal bones, at the midpoint of the second metacarpal bone near its radial border. Participants will be instructed to perform acupressure according to the standardized study protocol.
Behavioral: Acupressure
In the ibuprofen group participants will be provided with a 400 mg oral dose post arch wire placement. With a minimum gap of 8 hours between doses, remaining doses will be taken as per need for the relief of pain with the total daily dose not surpassing 1200 mg.
Drug: Ibuprofen 400 mg (if necessary)
Instructions to chew sugar-free gum for a period of 10 minutes immediately post arch wire placement will be provided to the chewing gum group, 8 hourly, for pain relief.
Behavioral: Chewing Gum
Participants in this arm will receive instructions on the use of acupressure for orthodontic pain management following placement of the initial archwire. Verbal instructions and a standardized advice sheet will be provided. Participants will be trained to apply steady, perpendicular pressure using the thumb of the opposite hand to the LI4 (Hegu) acupressure point for approximately 3 minutes. The location of the LI4 point will be demonstrated and identified as the point on the dorsum of the hand between the first and second metacarpal bones, at the midpoint of the second metacarpal bone near its radial border. Participants will be instructed to perform acupressure according to the standardized study protocol.
Also known as: LI4 (Hegu) Acupressure
In the ibuprofen group participants will be provided with a 400 mg oral dose post arch wire placement. With a minimum gap of 8 hours between doses, remaining doses will be taken as per need for the relief of pain with the total daily dose not surpassing 1200 mg.
Instructions to chew sugar-free gum for a period of 10 minutes immediately post arch wire placement will be provided to the chewing gum group, 8 hourly, for pain relief.
Post-archwire orthodontic pain
Pain experienced by patients following placement of the initial orthodontic archwire, measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
Time frame: Pain levels will be recorded using a 10-cm visual analog scale (vas) at the following intervals: • 2 hours • 6 hours • Bedtime (day 1) • 24 hours (day 2) • Day 3 • Day 7
Rescue analgesic consumption
Use of any additional analgesic medication beyond the assigned intervention.
Time frame: Within 7 days following initial archwire placement.
Appliance-related complications
Mechanical issues occurring such as bracket debonding or wire displacement.
Time frame: Within 7 days following initial archwire placement.
No study locations are listed for this record.
Start is estimated for Jul 2026; primary completion for Feb 2027, 7 months later.
Of 153 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Malocclusion, half reached primary completion within 18 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 10 and three quarters within 30. This study's planned 7 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 163 studies reached it within 19 months; a quarter within 10 and three quarters within 32.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Jun 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Bahria University