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Objective: To investigate by behavioral methods the relationship between emotional stress and pain during experimental tooth movement in rats.

Materials and Methods: Sixteen male Sprague-Dawley rats (210 to 250 g) were divided into two groups. The experimental group was treated with an active Ti-Ni appliance, and the control group received a passive appliance. A force of 20 gf was delivered by the active appliance between the maxillary first and second molars for 3 days. During this period the rat's behavior was evaluated eight times by means of open-field test and resistance-to-capture test. The specific parameters of animal activity were facial grooming, rearing, and locomotor activity, movement into the center of the open field, and response to capture.

Results: Parameters related to stress and pain were higher in the group carrying active appliance, compared to the group …