Antioxidant-Rich Natural Raw Materials in the Prevention and Treatment of Selected Oral Cavity and Periodontal Diseases.

Antioxidant-rich natural raw materials have been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine. In the past decade, there has been increasing interest in naturotherapy, which is a practice of using products with a natural origin. Natural products can be effective in the treatment and prevention of oral and dental diseases, among others. Such raw materials used in dentistry are characterized by antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antiedematous, astringent, anticoagulant, dehydrating, vitaminizing, and-above all-regenerative properties. Reports have shown that a relationship exists between oral diseases and the qualitative and quantitative composition of the microbiota colonizing the oral cavity. This review aimed to analyze the studies focusing on the microbiome colonizing the oral cavity in the context of using natural raw materials especially herbs, plant extracts, and isolated biologically active compounds as agents in the prevention and treatment of oral and periodontal diseases such as dental caries as well as mucosal changes associated with salivary secretion disorder. The present work discusses selected plant ingredients exhibiting an antioxidant activity with potential for the treatment of selected oral cavity and periodontal diseases.

Oral non-specific lesions in patient with Crohn's disease - a case report.

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic and granulomatous inflammatory disease of the entire gastrointestinal tract. The etiopathogenesis is not fully elucidated. The most common symptoms in the active phase of the disease include abdominal pain, prolonged diarrhea, fever, fatigue, malaise and weight loss. Oral manifestations of CD are classified into specific for CD with granulomatous changes and non-specific ones. This rare extraintestinal manifestation of CD in adults may precede gastrointestinal tract involvement, occur together or appear after years of its duration. Oral lesions can be initiated by malnourishment, poor absorption of nutrients or side-effect of medications. A CASE REPORT: We describe a 28-year-old female with a 9-years CD history, who presented in the active disease with oral lesions. They were classified as non-specific ones, and included oral candidiasis, irregular erythematous patches on the cheek mucosa, exfoliative lip inflammation, and angular cheilitis. The patient was treated with azathioprine, and since the last exacerbation of symptoms, induction therapy with adalimumab, (anti-TNF-alpha), has been prescribed. Nystatin was applied to treat the oral lesions, based on the microbiological assessment of the Candida albicans susceptibility, and symptomatic treatment. After a two-week treatment the oral mucosa was healed and angular cheilitis showed marked improvement compared to the initial presentation. CONCLUSIONS: The young female with active CD presented the nonspecific lesions in the oral cavity. The lesions coexisted with the active inflammatory process in the intestinal tract with characteristic clinical symptoms, and were associated with sideropenic anemia. The implementation of the local therapy, systemic CD treatment and supplementation of micronutrient deficiencies have led to a healing of the oral lesions. We emphasize a personalized approach to treatment and close cooperation between the dentist and the gastroenterologist.

The effects of alternate irrigation of root canals with chelating agents and sodium hypochlorite on the effectiveness of smear layer removal.

BACKGROUND: After the mechanical preparation of a root canal, the canal walls are covered with a smear layer. In order to deeply clean the dentinal tubules, removal of the smear layer is recommended. There is no consensus on the length of time of rinsing with chelating agents or irrigation with alternating chelating agents and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of smear layer removal using 4 irrigation protocols. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We prepared 42 straight root canals to size ISO40/04 and assigned them into 4 study groups (n = 10) and a control group (n = 2). The root canals were irrigated as follows: in the control group, 180 s with 5.25% NaOCl; in group 1, 60 s with 40% citric acid (CA) and 120 s with NaOCl; in group 2, 120 s with CA and 120 s with NaOCl; in group 3, 30 s CA, 30 s with NaOCl, 30 s CA and 120 s with NaOCl; and in group 4, 60 s with CA, 30 s with NaOCl, 60 s with CA, and 120 s with NaOCl. The roots were split longitudinally and the root canals were observed under ×200-500 magnification. The root canal walls were analyzed in areas 2 mm, 6 mm and 10 mm from the apex. RESULTS: In the apical and medial sections, the best effects were achieved in groups 3 and 4. In coronal sections, no significant differences between experimental groups were found. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that irrigation with alternating NaOCl and CA was the most effective at smear layer removal, regardless of the irrigation time.