Effect of chewing gum on pain following orthodontic elastomeric separators placement: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

AIM: The aim of the study was to investigate whether chewing gum (CG) can reduce pain as compared to non-CG (NG) after orthodontic elastomeric separators placement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients were randomly allocated in a ratio of 1:1 to CG group (mean age = 21.82 ± 0.87 years) and NG group (mean age = 22.31 ± 1.09 years). Patients in the CG group were instructed to chew sugar-free gum for 10 min immediately after separators placement and then at 8-h intervals for 1 week, while the patients in the NG group were instructed not to chew any type of gum for the duration of the study. Patients in the two groups were asked not to use any type of analgesics. The patients were asked to register their pain level using a 10-cm horizontal line visual analog scale at 2 h, 6 h, bedtime, 24 h, and then daily for 1 week after separators placement. RESULTS: The data from 53 patients (27 in the NG group and 26 in the CG group) were analyzed. The pain scores were significantly lower in CG as compared to NG at 2 h, 6 h, bedtime, 24 h, and 2 days after separators placement. From day 3 to the end of the week duration of the study, the pain scores stayed lower in the CG group, but the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: CG significantly reduced pain resulting from orthodontic elastomeric separators placement as compared to non-CG controls.