Comparison of the Clinical Effect of Mucoadhesive Cream of Phenytoin and Triamcinolone Acetonide on the Improvement of Minor Aphthous Ulcer

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis is a painful and common oral ulcer with an incidence rate of 25%. The treatment is non-specific and is mainly based on corticosteroids. Given the systemic side effects of the corticosteroids, this study aimed to compare the efficacy of phenytoin with triamcinolone acetonide on minor aphthous ulcers. It is hoped to take a step to prescribe medications with fewer side effects in this regard.

This double-blind clinical trial was conducted randomly on 60 patients referred to the Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Yazd, Iran, with minor aphthous ulcers. The patients were divided into two groups of triamcinolone acetonide (n=30) and phenytoin (n=30). The pain severity and burning sensation experienced by the patients were measured by visual analogue scale, and the size of the lesion was estimated by transparent calibration grid before treatment and on days 3, 5, and 7 after treatment. The data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 22).

According to the results, both groups showed a reduction in the mean of the largest recurrent aphthous stomatitis diameter before treatment and 3, 5, and 7 days after treatment; however, the difference was not significant between the groups in this regard (p < /em>=0.59). Furthermore, both groups reported a decrease in the pain severity and burning sensation (p < /em><0.0001); nevertheless, the difference was not significant between the groups in this regard (p < /em>=0.23).

Triamcinolone acetonide and phenytoin are effective in decreasing the recurrent aphthous stomatitis diameter, pain severity, and burning sensation. However, no significant difference was observed between the groups in this regard.