Clinical efficacy of nicotine replacement therapy in the treatment of minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis

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Abstract

Background/aim
Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a common and widely recognized disease involving the oral mucous membrane. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is a dose-dependent safe method for encountering useful effects of nicotine. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of NRT in the treatment of minor RAS.
Materials and methods
A total of 50 patients from Oral Medicine and Periodontology Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University, with active minor RAS lasting for less than 48 h were randomly allocated into two groups (25 each): placebo and nicotine groups. They were treated with placebo and 2-mg nicotine chewing gum, correspondingly, twice daily for 2 weeks. All participants were assessed for pain, erythema, and ulcer size sores at 4 and 6 days from baseline. Frequency of recurrence was evaluated at 1-month, 2-month, and 3-month intervals.
Results
Regarding pain and erythema scores, the nicotine group showed lower mean with significant difference after 6 days in comparison with the placebo group. A lower mean of ulcer size was recorded in the nicotine group, with a significant difference after 4 and 6 days. A lower mean of recurrence score was recorded in nicotine group, with nonsignificant difference compared with the placebo group.
Conclusion
Low-dosage NRT in the form of chewing gum may be considered as an innovative and safe alternate treatment modality for minor RAS.

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Journal of the Arab Society for Medical Research
Volume 13, Issue 2
July 2018
Pages 106-112

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