EFFICACY OF BIOADHESIVE PATCHES IN THE TREATMENT OF RECURRENT APHTHOUS STOMATITIS

This study evaluated the efficacy of bioadhesive hydrogel patches. mad e of a pharmaceutical grade cellulose derivative, in the control of pa in and as an aid to healing of aphthous ulceration. Patients kept: a t wice daily ulcer diary to record their pain level on a visual analogue scale. The sensitivity of the test ulcer was assessed by a challenge with pure orange juice as a stimulant before and after application of the patch by the patient. A significant reduction in stimulated pain w as recorded following application of the patches to the ulcers (P<0.01 ). The patches were found to adhere longer to large ulcers in the earl y stages of ulceration, when they achieved their maximum protective an d pain-attenuating effects, The ulcer size was recorded daily by,the p atient and patients claimed a reduction in healing time following patc h therapy.