Efficacy of sugar free chewing gum containing casein phosphopeptide amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) on demineralization around fixed orthodontic brackets - An in vivo study

This study is a randomized, double blind, parallel group,active controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of sugarfree chewing gum with and without CPP-ACP in prevention of enameldemineralization around orthodontic brackets. The primary outcome measure is Vickers Hardness measurementof demineralized enamel around orthodontic brackets after 1 month use ofinterventional and control agents. The secondary outcome measure isto measure the VAS pain score due tochewing the gum in interventional groups in the first week and toidentify the number of appliance breakages in one month. The data were analysedstatistically. The results of this study showed that sugar-free gum containing CPP-ACP issuperior to an equivalent gum not containing CPP-ACP in prevention andremineralization of enamel demineralization. VAS pain scores betweenintervention and control groups showed statistically significant difference inthe pain perceived during the second day after separator placement andfirst day of activation of the arch wire. There is no statistical significancein the pain perceived during other days. There were no incidences of appliance breakage (debonding of brackets ordisplacement of arch wire) in gum chewing groups and control group over theperiod of 30 days.