The aim of this study is to determine whether chewing gum can alleviate orthodontic treatment discomfort and improve orthodontic treatment experience. The long-term goal is to enable clinicians to decide whether prescription of chewing gum at the placement of orthodontic appliances can improve patient experience with orthodontic treatment. In specific, a total of 60 patients under the age of 18 will be recruited for the study. Consent will be signed by both the child patient and the parents. 30 patients will be asked to chew xylitol gum and the other 30 patients will refrain from chewing gum and serve as the control group. At the appointment for insertion of orthodontic appliances, patients will be instructed to chew one serving or two pieces of xylitol gum three times per day for a total of six grams of xylitol per day. Patients will participate in a survey at the following timepoints- 4 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours and 7 days. The expectation is that this study will determine the effectiveness of using xylitol to decrease pain in orthodontic patients.
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
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The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
Visual analogue scale Baseline
Timeframe: Baseline
Visual analogue scale 4 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 4 hours post treatment
Visual analogue scale 24 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 24 hours post treatment
Visual analogue scale 48 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 48 hours post treatment
Visual analogue scale 1 week post treatment
Timeframe: 1 week post treatment
Comfort Level for Biting Baseline
Timeframe: Baseline
Comfort Level for Biting 4 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 4 hours post treatment
Comfort Level for Biting 24 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 24 hours post treatment
Comfort Level for Biting 48 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 48 hours post treatment
Comfort Level for Biting 1 week post treatment
Timeframe: 1 week post treatment
Comfort Level for Chewing Baseline
Timeframe: Baseline
Comfort Level for Chewing 4 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 4 hours post treatment
Comfort Level for Chewing 24 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 24 hours post treatment
Comfort Level for Chewing 48 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 48 hours post treatment
Comfort Level for Chewing 1 week post treatment
Timeframe: 1 week post treatment
Comfort Level for Fitting Back Teeth Baseline
Timeframe: Baseline
Comfort Level for Fitting Back Teeth 4 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 4 hours post treatment
Comfort Level for Fitting Back Teeth 24 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 24 hours post treatment
Comfort Level for Fitting Back Teeth 48 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 48 hours post treatment
Comfort Level for Fitting Back Teeth 1 week post treatment
Timeframe: 1 week post treatment
Comfort Level for Fitting Front Teeth Baseline
Timeframe: Baseline
Comfort Level for Fitting Front Teeth 4 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 4 hours post treatment
Comfort Level for Fitting Front Teeth 24 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 24 hours post treatment
Comfort Level for Fitting Front Teeth 48 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 48 hours post treatment
Comfort Level for Fitting Front Teeth 1 week post treatment
Timeframe: 1 week post treatment
Comfort Level for Speech Baseline
Timeframe: Baseline
Comfort Level for Speech 4 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 4 hours post treatment
Comfort Level for Speech 24 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 24 hours post treatment
Comfort Level for Speech 48 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 48 hours post treatment
Comfort Level for Speech 1 week post treatment
Timeframe: 1 week post treatment
Comfort Level for popping and clicking of the jaw joint Baseline
Timeframe: Baseline
Comfort Level for popping and clicking of the jaw joint 4 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 4 hours post treatment
Comfort Level for popping and clicking of the jaw joint 24 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 24 hours post treatment
Comfort Level for popping and clicking of the jaw joint 48 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 48 hours post treatment
Comfort Level for popping and clicking of the jaw joint 1 week post treatment
Timeframe: 1 week post treatment
Satisfaction with appearance of teeth Baseline
Timeframe: Baseline
Satisfaction with appearance of teeth 4 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 4 hours post treatment
Satisfaction with appearance of teeth 24 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 24 hours post treatment
Satisfaction with appearance of teeth 48 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 48 hours post treatment
Satisfaction with appearance of teeth 1 week post treatment
Timeframe: 1 week post treatment
Satisfaction with appearance of facial profile Baseline
Timeframe: Baseline
Satisfaction with appearance of facial profile 4 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 4 hours post treatment
Satisfaction with appearance of facial profile 24 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 24 hours post treatment
Satisfaction with appearance of facial profile 48 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 48 hours post treatment
Satisfaction with appearance of facial profile 1 week post treatment
Timeframe: 1 week post treatment
Satisfaction with general appearance of face Baseline
Timeframe: Baseline
Satisfaction with general appearance of face 4 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 4 hours post treatment
Satisfaction with general appearance of face 24 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 24 hours post treatment
Satisfaction with general appearance of face 48 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 48 hours post treatment
Satisfaction with general appearance of face 1 week post treatment
Timeframe: 1 week post treatment
Satisfaction with overall appearance Baseline
Timeframe: Baseline
Satisfaction with overall appearance 4 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 4 hours post treatment
Satisfaction with overall appearance 24 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 24 hours post treatment
Satisfaction with overall appearance 48 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 48 hours post treatment
Satisfaction with overall appearance 1 week post treatment
Timeframe: 1 week post treatment
Satisfaction with general health Baseline
Timeframe: Baseline
Satisfaction with general health 4 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 4 hours post treatment
Satisfaction with general health 24 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 24 hours post treatment
Satisfaction with general health 48 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 48 hours post treatment
Satisfaction with general health 1 week post treatment
Timeframe: 1 week post treatment
Satisfaction with self-esteem Baseline
Timeframe: Baseline
Satisfaction with self-esteem 4 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 4 hours post treatment
Satisfaction with self-esteem 24 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 24 hours post treatment
Satisfaction with self-esteem 48 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 48 hours post treatment
Satisfaction with self-esteem 1 week post treatment
Timeframe: 1 week post treatment
Satisfaction with socializing Baseline
Timeframe: Baseline
Satisfaction with socializing 4 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 4 hours post treatment
Satisfaction with socializing 24 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 24 hours post treatment
Satisfaction with socializing 48 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 48 hours post treatment
Satisfaction with socializing 1 week post treatment
Timeframe: 1 week post treatment
Satisfaction with school performance Baseline
Timeframe: Baseline
Satisfaction with school performance 4 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 4 hours post treatment
Satisfaction with school performance 24 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 24 hours post treatment
Satisfaction with school performance 48 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 48 hours post treatment
Satisfaction with school performance 1 week post treatment
Timeframe: 1 week post treatment
Satisfaction with being out in public Baseline
Timeframe: Baseline
Satisfaction with being out in public 4 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 4 hours post treatment
Satisfaction with being out in public 24 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 24 hours post treatment
Satisfaction with being out in public 48 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 48 hours post treatment
Satisfaction with being out in public 1 week post treatment
Timeframe: 1 week post treatment
Self-Reported Level of Neuroticism Baseline
Timeframe: Baseline
Self-Reported Introversion/extroversion Baseline
Timeframe: Baseline
Adherence to chewing gum instructions 4 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 4 hours post treatment
Adherence to chewing gum instructions 24 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 24 hours post treatment
Adherence to chewing gum instructions 48 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 48 hours post treatment
Adherence to chewing gum instructions 1 week post treatment
Timeframe: 1 week post treatment
Adherence to avoiding pain medications instructions 4 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 4 hours post treatment
Adherence to avoiding pain medications instructions 24 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 24 hours post treatment
Adherence to avoiding pain medications instructions 48 hours post treatment
Timeframe: 48 hours post treatment
Adherence to avoiding pain medications instructions 1 week post treatment
Timeframe: 1 week post treatment