Available online 26 April 2024

This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of chewing gum and using bite wafers in reducing pain after the placement of separators in orthodontic patients and to compare that efficiency with ibuprofen use. Additionally, this study evaluated the effect of non-pharmacological pain control methods on the frequency of separators falling out.

The study sample comprised 105 female patients between 15 and 35 years of age. The patients were randomly selected and classified into three groups (35 each). Each group was given either ibuprofen, viscoelastic bite wafers, or chewing gum immediately after the placement of separators and every 8 h for 1 week, as needed. The patients were asked to record their pain perception using a visual analog scale following separator placement at 2 h, 6 h, bedtime, 24 h, and at 2, 3, and 7 days. Analysis of variance testing was used for the data analysis.

Among the three studied groups, there were no significant differences in pain perception at any time point. The patients experienced significantly higher pain scores at bedtime and 24 h after separator placement. In addition, there were statistically significant findings in pain perception at different time points within each pain relief method (p = 0.000, p < 0.05).

The use of chewing gum and bite wafers in alleviating orthodontic pain was beneficial and comparable to ibuprofen use following the placement of separators before orthodontic treatment among orthodontic patients.

Bite wafers

Chewing gum

Elastomeric separators

Ibuprofen

Orthodontic pain

© 2024 THE AUTHORS. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of King Saud University.