title: Silver nitrate cauterization: a treatment option for aphthous stomatitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study we compared silver nitrate cautery with placebo to assess the effect of silver nitrate cautery in aphthous stomatitis for pain relief and healing time.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, sixty-five patients with aphthous stomatitis were assessed. Silver nitrate sticks were used in group A (treatment group) and placebo sticks were used for group B (control group). Change in the severity of pain, change in the size of the ulcers, healing time, side effects of the procedure were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although the mean value of pain scores before the procedure was similar in both of the groups, there were statistically significant differences between two groups after the procedure on the first to the seventh day. On the seventh day after the procedure, the ulcers were completely reepithelialized in 21 patients (60%) in the treatment group and in 10 patients (32%) in the placebo group. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01). In the treatment group, the mean healing time of ulcers, reported by these 21 patients, was 2.7 days (range 2-4) after the procedure. In the placebo group, the mean healing time of ulcers, reported by 10 patients with healed ulcers, was 5.5 days (range 4-7) after the procedure. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01). No side effects were recorded in either of the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, silver nitrate cautery appears to be an effective and rapid treatment option for pain relief in aphthous stomatitis. Also this treatment shortens the healing time of ulcers.
authors.affiliation: Mustafa Kemal University, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hatay, Turkey. Electronic address: soylugul@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Gül
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Soylu Özler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002424:Caustics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002425:Cautery / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008047:Lip Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000601:surgery; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D010919:Placebos; D062326:Re-Epithelialization; D012835:Silver Nitrate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013281:Stomatitis, Aphthous / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002424:Caustics; D010919:Placebos; D012835:Silver Nitrate
keywords: Aphthous stomatitis; Healing time; Pain relief; Silver nitrate cautery