Effects of Propolis-Based Herbal Toothpaste on Dentine Hypersensitivity.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this in vitro study was to compare the effectiveness of a propolis-based herbal toothpaste with 5% sodium fluoride varnishin obstructing human dentinal tubules; Scanning electron microscopy was utilised to obtain quantitative and qulitative data on tubular obstruction. METHODS: Thirty-nine extracted human premolar teeth were collected. The cementum layer was removed using a water-cooled diamond bur and the smear layer using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) 17%. Then, the samples were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 13 each), as follows: group 1: dentin discs exposed to the propolis-based herbal toothpaste (Herbex); group 2: dentin discs exposed to 5% sodium fluoride varnish; and group 3: control. Then, all discs were observed and imaged in 4 non-overlapping fields by an electron microscope at 2000× magnification. The topography and number of open, closed, and semi-closed tubules were counted in all images. The data were analysed using Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Friedman test. The statistical analysis was performed with SPSS statistic 22.0 software, with a significance level of α = 0.05. RESULTS: In pairwise comparisons of the groups considering the percentage of open, closed, and semi-closed tubules, the difference was not statistically significant between the 5% sodium fluoride varnish and propolis groups in the closed and semi-closed tubules, but it was statistically significant with the control group. Additionally, the percentage of open tubules in the propolis-based herbal toothpaste group was significantly lower than in the 5% sodium fluoride varnish and control group. CONCLUSIONS: Both propolis-based herbal toothpaste and 5% sodium fluoride varnish is effective in blocking human dentin tubules to various extents.

Effect of Propolis mouthwash on clinical periodontal parameters in patients with gingivitis: A double-blinded randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: Periodontal diseases have multifactorial aetiology and are primarily caused by pathogenic bacteria. Using antibacterial mouthwashes as an adjunct to mechanical plaque control can effectively improve the quality of oral hygiene maintenance at home. This study aimed to assess the clinical efficacy of a propolis-containing mouthwash in gingivitis treatment. METHODS: This clinical trial evaluated 32 patients with gingivitis in two groups (n=16). The intervention group received a mouthwash containing propolis extract while the control group received the same mouthwash without the propolis extract. The papillary bleeding index (PBI), plaque index (PI) and tooth discoloration were evaluated in each patient at baseline (before the intervention) and at 15 and 30 days, after treatment. To facilitate the follow-up evaluations, the measurements were recorded for the tooth with the most inflamed gingiva in each quadrant (n = 128). The two groups were compared using the Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: The change in PI was 85.19 ± 51.6% in the propolis and 83.93 ± 36.1% in the placebo group with no significant difference between them (p = 0.91). The reduction in papillary bleeding index was significantly greater in the propolis group compared with the placebo group (p < 0.001). The change in tooth colour over time was significant in the placebo and insignificant in the propolis group (p = 0.14). CONCLUSIONS: Considering the current findings, it seems that propolis mouthwash can effectively decrease gingival inflammation and bleeding, without causing tooth discoloration or staining. Considering the limitations of this study such as small sample size (based on participants and also number of teeth included in the study), future studies are warranted on this topic.

Effect of Nonsurgical Periodontal Treatment Combined With Diode Laser or Photodynamic Therapy on Chronic Periodontitis: A Randomized Controlled Split-Mouth Clinical Trial.

INTRODUCTION: The optimum removal of bacteria and their toxins from periodontal pockets is not always obtained by conventional mechanical debridement. Adjunctive therapies may improve tissue healing through detoxification and bactericidal effects. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the impact of adjunctive laser therapy (LT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) on patients with chronic periodontitis. METHODS: Twenty patients with at least three quadrants involved and each of them presenting pockets 4-8 mm deep were included in the study. Periodontal treatment comprising scaling and root planning (SRP) was accomplished for the whole mouth. Applying a split-mouth design, each quadrant was randomly treated with SRP alone (group A), SRP with LT (group B), and SRP with PDT (group C). The clinical indices were measured at baseline 6 weeks and 3 months after treatment. Microbiological samples were taken and evaluated at baseline and 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: All groups showed statistically significant improvements in terms of clinical attachment level (CAL) gain, periodontal pocket depth (PPD) reduction, papilla bleeding index and microbial count compared to baseline (P < .05). The results showed more significant improvement in the 6-week evaluation in terms of CAL in groups B and C than in group A (P < .05). Group B also revealed a greater reduction in PPD than the other treatment modalities (P < .05). CONCLUSION: The obtained data suggested that adjunctive LT and PDT have significant short-term benefits in the treatment of chronic periodontitis. Furthermore, LT showed minimal additional advantages compared to PDT.

Efficacy of a local-drug delivery gel containing extracts of Quercus brantii and Coriandrum sativum as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in moderate chronic periodontitis patients.

OBJECTIVE: Recent advances in the field of alternative medicine introduced various herbal products for the treatment of periodontitis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of combined extracts from Quercus brantii and Coriandrum sativum on periodontal indices in adult periodontitis patients. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blinded clinical trial, performed in Isfahan Dental School in 2012, a new herbal medicament containing combined extracts from Q. brantii and C. sativum was formulated in the gel form for subgingival application. Following scaling and root planing (SRP), both herbal and placebo gels were delivered at the experimental and control sites, respectively. Periodontal pocket depth, clinical attachment level, papilla bleeding index, and plaque index were measured at baseline, 1 month and 3 months later. Both intra-and inter-groups changes were registered. The obtained data were analyzed by SPSS software, using repeated measure analysis of variance, paired t-test, Mann-Whitney, Friedman, and Wilcoxon tests. Differences with P < 0.05 were considered to be significant. FINDINGS: Both groups indicated statistically significant improvements in the periodontal indices (P < 0.05), but there were no significant differences between two study groups with this regard. CONCLUSION: The herbal gel does not have considerable advantages over SRP alone as an adjunct in periodontal treatment.

Assessment of available and stable fluoride in four widely-used toothpastes in the Iranian market.

OBJECTIVE: Presence of available and stable fluoride in a dentifrice formulation is a major requirement for an anti-caries effect. Although the available fluoride concentration in Iranian dentifrices has been reported in previous studies, there is little information on its stability; which is dependent upon dentifrice formulation. This study was done to assess the fluoride ion concentration and stability in four widely used dentifrices in Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this analytical study, three samples of each brand of dentifrice (Nasim, Pooneh, Crest, and Signal) were purchased. Total fluoride (TF) and total soluble fluoride (TSF) concentrations were determined by ion specific electrodes. Data about TF were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were used for nonparametric data (TSF). RESULTS: All dentifrices had more than 1000 ppm of fluoride ions. TSF in Crest was significantly higher than in other dentifrices (P<0.0001) and was over the maximum permitted dose. CONCLUSION: The TF concentration in Iranian toothpastes was sufficient to prevent caries.