Comparative antimicrobial efficacy of herbal alternatives (Emblica officinalis, Psidium guajava), MTAD, and 2.5% sodium hypochlorite against Enterococcus faecalis: An in vitro study

Effect of a 940 nm Diode Laser and MTAD on the Decontamination of Root Canals With Enterococcus faecalis

Introduction: In recent years, various methods such as lasers and different solutions have been investigated to eliminate microorganisms in the root canal. This investigation was aimed at comparing the bactericidal effect on Enterococcus faecalis between a diode laser with a wavelength of 940 nm and a mixture of a tetracycline isomer, an acid, and a detergent (MTAD). Methods: Forty single-rooted human lower premolar teeth were prepared for inoculation with E. faecalis and incubated for a period of 3 weeks. The 40 samples were randomly divided into 4 groups: the 940 nm diode laser group with irradiation through a 200 µm optical fiber with parameters of (1 W/CW,4 cycles, 20s interval); the MTAD group irrigated with 5 mL for 5 minutes; also, a positive group with 3% NaOCl and a negative group with 0.9% saline solution, both irrigated with 5 mL for 5 minutes. For statistical analysis, the Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon tests were used. Results: The 3% NaOCl positive control group had greater bacterial reduction after treatment (99.99%) compared to the 940nm diode laser (98.96%) and MTAD (99.34%) groups. Statistically, we found a significant difference between all groups regarding the reduction in the colony count (P<0.05). Conclusion: It was found that there was a significant difference in the percentage of reduction for the bacterial colonies between all the groups evaluated, with the greatest antibacterial effectiveness observed with 3% sodium hypochlorite.

Effect of herbal irrigants on surface roughness of intraradicular dentin using quantitative method of 3D surface texture analysis

Replacing the conventional endodontic irrigants with herbal agents could avoid complications associated with using sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). Endodontic irrigants alter the surface roughness of the dentinal wall surface, which affects sealer mechanical retention. This study aimed to assess the effect of experimental herbal Moringa oleifera and orange peel extract irrigant on intraradicular dentin (IRD) surface roughness using quantitative 3D surface analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) regarding the smear layer assessment. Sixty human root sections were divided into four groups (n = 15): NaOCl combined with 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA); negative control (saline); moringa extract (MO); and orange oil (OO). SEM images were assessed quantitatively for surface roughness (Ra) in the coronal, middle, and apical IRD. The data were analysed by Kruskal-Wallis, Friedman, and Dunn's tests. All groups showed statistically significant differences (P = 0.007). MO exhibited significantly greater Ra values at the coronal, middle, and apical root levels than OO (P = 0.007, 0.009, and 0.046, respectively). There was no significant change in Ra values at various root levels within each group at P = 0.091, 0.819, 0.819, and 0.549 for the EDTA, saline, MO, and OO groups. Considerable (IRD) surface roughness analysis makes Moringa extract a promising herbal endodontic irrigant alternative to the NaOCl plus EDTA regimen.

The Role of Natural Compounds in Optimizing Contemporary Dental Treatment-Current Status and Future Trends

For a long period of time, natural remedies were the only ailment available for a multitude of diseases, and they have proven effective even after the emergence of modern medicine. Due to their extremely high prevalence, oral and dental disorders and anomalies are recognized as major public health concerns. Herbal medicine is the practice of using plants with therapeutic characteristics for the purpose of disease prevention and treatment. Herbal agents have made a significant entry into oral care products in recent years, complementing traditional treatment procedures due to their intriguing physicochemical and therapeutic properties. There has been a resurgence of interest in natural products because of recent updates, technological advancements, and unmet expectations from current strategies. Approximately eighty percent of the world's population uses natural remedies, especially in poorer nations. When conventional treatments have failed, it may make sense to use natural drugs for the treatment of pathologic oral dental disorders, as they are readily available, inexpensive, and have few negative effects. The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the benefits and applications of natural biomaterials in dentistry, to gather relevant information from the medical literature with an eye toward its practical applicability, and make suggestions for the directions for future study.

Current herbal medicine as an alternative treatment in dentistry: In vitro, in vivo and clinical studies

Since the time that human population comprehended the importance of general health maintenance and the burden of disease, there has been a search for healing properties in the natural environment. Herbal medicine is the use of plants with medical properties for prevention and treatment of conditions that can affect general health. Recently, a growing interest has been observed toward the use of traditional herbal medicine alongside synthetic modern drugs. Around 80% of the population, especially in developing countries relies on it for healthcare. Oral healthcare is considered a major part of general health. According to the world health organization (WHO), oral health is considered an important part of general health and quality of life. The utilization of natural medications for the management of pathologic oro-dental conditions can be a logical alternative to pharmaceutical methods due to their availability, low costs, and lower side effects. The current literature review aimed at exploration of the variety and extent of herbal products application in oral health maintenance including different fields of oral healthcare such as dental caries, periodontal maintenance, microbial infections, oral cancers, and inflammatory conditions.

Drug delivery based pharmacological enhancement and current insights of quercetin with therapeutic potential against oral diseases

The heavy burden of oral diseases such as oral cancers, dental caries, periodontitis, etc. and their consequence on the patient's quality of life demonstrated an urgent demand for developing effective therapeutics. Quercetin as a natural derived flavonoid, could be utilized in the therapeutic formulation of various diseases such as diabetes, breast cancer and asthma, owing to its prominent pharmacological values. In the last decade, the applications of quercetin as a natural compound in oral treatment have attracted increasing interest due to its multifunction including antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antineoplastic activities. Besides, considering the low bioavailability of quercetin, great efforts have been made in its drug delivery systems to address the problem of limited application. Therefore, this review summarized the cutting-edge researches on versatile effects and enhanced bioavailability of quercetin resulting from innovative drug delivery systems, particularly focused on its potential against oral diseases. The application of quercetin would provide novel and promising therapeutic approach for clinical treatment, promoting the development of global dental public health.