Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to access the efficacy of oral screen in protection of arch bar-induced soft tissue injury after achieving maxillomandibular fixation (MMF).
Materials and methods: This study is a randomized clinical trial. The study sample was derived from the population of patients who required MMF and reported from January 2017 to December 2017. A total of 60 patients in whom application of an Erich arch bar was indicated for MMF were selected for the study. The patients were divided into two groups. In group I, only MMF was done; however, in group II, oral screen was used after MMF. The patients were assessed for soft tissue injury, pain, and maintenance of oral hygiene. All parameters were compared statistically using the chi-square test and Student's t test.
Results: The soft tissue injury in group I (73.33%) was greater than that in group II (3.33%). The pain was worse in group I than in group II. The mean value of plaque index in group II is 1.20 and in group I is 2.89. It signifies that plaque deposition was more in group I.
Conclusion: Soft tissue injury and pain were less, as well as oral hygiene maintenance is better in patients who used oral screen after the placement of Erich arch bars.
Keywords: Arch bar; Maxillomandibular fixation; Oral screen; Soft tissue injury.