Harris, AngelaGovender, Yolin2020-11-232024-06-042020-11-232024-06-042020https://hdl.handle.net/10566/15860Magister Scientiae Dentium - MSc(Dent)Background and aim: Managing orthodontic pain traditionally involves the prescription of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs combined with other analgesic medication. Sugar-free chewing gum has been advocated in the control of orthodontic pain due to its mechanical and physiological effects on periodontal tissue; however, the literature is scant. The ‘placebo effect’ that conventional sugar-free chewing gum may have in the relief of orthodontic pain has not been documented. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of conventional sugar-free chewing gum in reducing orthodontic pain associated with fixed appliances with a placebo (sugar-free sweets) medicament. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to determine if there were differences in pain reporting between the sugar-free chewing gum and the placebo, to ascertain whether gender influenced pain scores and to observe any differences in pain reporting between different orthodontic techniques.enSelf -ligating bracketsConventional bracketsNon- steroidal anti- inflammatory drugsVisual analogue scaleConsort guidelinesOrthodontic painGenderPlacebo effectPlacebo medicamentConventional sugar-free chewing gumUniversity of the Western Cape