Abstract
Background: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is the most common disorder affecting oral mucosa. The present study was designed to assess the clinical effectiveness of utilizing topical hyaluronic acid (HA) against chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwashes as a control in RAS treatment.
Materials and methods: Thirty-four patients with minor RAS were included in the trial. They were equally allocated into two groups with random distribution to rinse with CHX mouthwash as a control (Group I, CHX Group) and HA mouthwash in (Group II, HA group) as a study group. Evaluation of pain intensity and ulcer size were done in all study patients at baseline, 3 days and 7 days observational times. Duration of healing period was assessed in both study groups.
Results: The results demonstrated a significant lowering in pain score and ulcer size in each group. Lower mean values of these outcomes were recorded in HA group compared to CHX group at 3 days and 7 days with significant difference regarding pain score. Concerning the duration of healing a significant decrease was recorded in HA group compared to CHX group.
Conclusion: In conclusion, topical HA is a safe and effective treatment option for RAS with better pain control and healing duration.