How Herbal Solutions Affect Tooth Root Surface Using 3D Texture Analysis

Greg Howard
6th July, 2024

How Herbal Solutions Affect Tooth Root Surface Using 3D Texture Analysis

Irrigation with Moringa (Moringa oleifera) extract (g–i) effectively removes the smear layer to open dentinal tubules, proving significantly more effective than the orange oil treatment (j–l), which only partially cleans the root canal surface.

Image adapted from: Sobhy et al. / CC BY (Source)

Key Findings

  • Researchers at Al-Azhar University studied herbal alternatives to conventional root canal irrigants, focusing on Moringa oleifera (MO) and orange peel extract (OO)
  • MO significantly increased dentin surface roughness at all root levels compared to OO
  • The study suggests MO could be a viable herbal substitute for conventional irrigants, offering similar efficacy in altering dentin surface roughness without the complications of chemicals like NaOCl
The field of endodontics, which deals with the treatment of dental pulp and root canal therapy, has long relied on chemical irrigants like sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) to clean and disinfect root canals. However, these chemicals can alter the surface roughness of dentin, potentially affecting the mechanical retention of sealers used in the procedure[2][3][4]. A recent study by researchers at Al-Azhar University aimed to explore the potential of herbal alternatives to conventional irrigants, specifically focusing on Moringa oleifera and orange peel extract[1]. The study involved 60 human root sections divided into four groups: NaOCl combined with 17% EDTA, saline (negative control), Moringa oleifera extract (MO), and orange oil (OO). The researchers used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to conduct a quantitative 3D surface analysis of the intraradicular dentin (IRD), assessing surface roughness (Ra) at different root levels: coronal, middle, and apical. The data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis, Friedman, and Dunn's tests, revealing statistically significant differences among the groups (P = 0.007). The findings showed that MO exhibited significantly greater Ra values at all root levels compared to OO (P = 0.007, 0.009, and 0.046 for coronal, middle, and apical levels, respectively). However, there were no significant changes in Ra values within each group at various root levels, indicating consistency in the roughness alteration by each irrigant. These results are particularly significant in the context of earlier studies. For instance, it has been established that NaOCl alone does not significantly affect surface roughness, but when combined with chelating agents like EDTA, it can lead to increased roughness[2][4]. The current study aligns with these findings, as the NaOCl plus EDTA group showed considerable surface roughness, comparable to the herbal alternatives. This suggests that MO could be a viable herbal substitute, offering similar efficacy in altering dentin surface roughness without the complications associated with NaOCl. Moreover, the study highlights the importance of surface roughness in bacterial adherence and micromechanical interlocking of dental materials to dentin[4]. By demonstrating that MO can achieve significant roughness alterations, the study provides a promising outlook for its use in enhancing the adhesion of root canal sealers, which is crucial for the long-term success of endodontic treatments. The exploration of herbal alternatives is also timely, given the need to address the limitations and potential side effects of conventional chemical irrigants. Previous reviews have emphasized the necessity for more effective and safer irrigation methods, calling for multidisciplinary research efforts to develop better antimicrobials and activation methods[3][5]. The current study contributes to this ongoing research by providing evidence that herbal irrigants like MO can potentially fulfill these requirements. In conclusion, the study by Al-Azhar University researchers offers valuable insights into the use of herbal irrigants in endodontics. By demonstrating that Moringa oleifera extract can significantly alter dentin surface roughness, it opens up new possibilities for safer and effective root canal treatments. This aligns with and expands upon previous findings, suggesting that herbal alternatives could mitigate the complications associated with conventional chemical irrigants while maintaining or even enhancing treatment efficacy.

MedicineHealthBiochem

References

Main Study

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

Published 4th July, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-65245-4

Related Studies

2) Effects of different irrigation protocols on dentin surfaces as revealed through quantitative 3D surface texture analysis.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-79003-9

3) Present status and future directions - irrigants and irrigation methods.

https://doi.org/10.1111/iej.13739

4) Etidronate from medicine to endodontics: effects of different irrigation regimes on root dentin roughness.

https://doi.org/10.1590/1679-775720130201

5) The effect of root canal irrigants on dentin: a focused review.

https://doi.org/10.5395/rde.2020.45.e39


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