Effectiveness of mouthguards on tooth pain and mobility in cervical traction treatment

The purpose of the present study was to: 1) determine whether mouthguard use effect Periotest values and the levels of pain in teeth of patients after initial and last visits of cervical traction treatment, 2) evaluate factors associated with the pain and periotest value. Forty patients with cervical disc herniation (CDH) diagnosed clinically and by computerized tomography were included in this study. Patients were assigned into two main groups as mouthguard (MG) and non-MG groups. Two main groups were individually matched for age, gender and periodontal disease. Then, both groups were assigned into four subgroups as MG and non-MG groups with periodontal disease and periodontally healthy. The number of teeth, decay on all tooth surfaces, and clinical periodontal parameters were determined by two experienced periodontist. The levels of pain of tooth during cervical traction treatment in visits were measured by using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Tooth mobility was evaluated by Periotest (PTV). Level of VAS values or the degree of experiencing pain were associated significant with age, mouthguard use, probing clinical attachment level (CAL) >= 3 mm and periodontal disease. The degree of PTV values were associated significant with age, gender, mouthguard use, CAL >= 3 mm, Periodontal disease and Probing pocket depth (PPD) >= 4 mm. Patients aged 18-34 years were 2.48 times more likely to present higher pain than patients aged 45-60 years. Non-MG users were 2.65 times more likely to present higher VAS values than MG users. From the present study, we can conclude that both MG use and periodontal healthy reduces both pain and tooth mobility when compared to non-MG use and periodontal disease in cervical traction treatment.