Page 142 - FINAL COMPENDIUM 2020-2021 27.2.2022

THE EFFECT OF THE CHEWING GUM IN ALLEVIATING ORTHODONTIC PAIN AFTER
SEPARATOR AND INITIAL ARCHWIRE PLACEMENT: A RANDOMISED CLINICAL TRIAL

Poon PS, Othman SA, Mohd Yusof ZY
Objectives: To investigate the effectiveness of sugar free chewing gum on pain reduction
in orthodontic patients after the separators and initial archwires placement, and to
compare the usage of analgesics, the prevalence of bracket/band failure and the impact
of pain on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) between patients chewing and not
chewing the gum. Materials and methods: Two-arm parallel randomised clinical trial
conducted on patients receiving orthodontic fixed appliances treatment at the
Postgraduate Orthodontic Clinic, Faculty of Dentistry, University Malaya. Ninety-three
patients were randomised in the intervention group (n= 47, mean age, 22.62 ±4.73) and
in the control group (n= 46, mean age, 21.88 ±5.79). The patients completed a set of
questionnaires at 3 different time points (6, 24 and 48 hours) after the placement of
separators and initial archwires. Numerical rating scales (NRS) was used to assess the
intensity of pain. The usage of analgesics, the appliances breakages and the impact of
orthodontic pain on patients’ OHRQoL were recorded. Examiner was blinded during data
entry and analysis. Results: No statistically significant differences found in the mean NRS
pain scores between the groups at all time points for both procedures. There was an
increased analgesic usage at 48 hours after archwires placement in the chewing gum
group. The chewing gum reduced the impact of orthodontic pain on patients’ OHRQoL
after separators placement, but not after the archwires placement. No statistically
significant differences found in the usage of analgesics, prevalence of bracket/band
failures and the impact of orthodontic pain on patients’ OHRQoL between the groups.
Conclusion: Sugar free chewing gum may not be effective to reduce the orthodontic pain.
It does not reduce the usage of analgesics and does not increase the rate of appliances
breakages but may help to reduce the impact of pain on patients’ OHRQoL after the
separators placement.

Keywords: Orthodontic, Pain, Chewing gum, Randomised clinical trial, NRS

Presented at the 14 Postgraduate Conference University Malaya on 22 – 23 September 2021
th
Dr Poon Pei San
Orthodontic Unit
Kota Bharu Dental Clinic
Kota Bharu
Kelantan

Prof. Dr Siti Adibah Othman
Prof. Dr Zamros Yuzadi Mohd Yusof
Faculty of Dentistry
University of Malaya
Malaysia

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