Herbal Medicine as an Adjunct in the Treatment of Periodontal Diseases - A Systematic Review

In recent times, a shift has been observed among both researchers and dental patients towards opting for herbal remedies and products to address issues like dental caries, gingivitis, periodontitis, periimplantitis, and dentin hypersensitivity. These herbal solutions encompass herbs, herbal constituents, formulations, and products derived from genuine plant components or other plant-derived materials.

This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current body of literature regarding the added advantages of herbal medicinal products in managing periodontal and peri-implant conditions.

RCT published in English from 2013 till Sep 2023 in the terms “medicinal plants,” “plant medicine,” “dental herbs,” “medical herbs,” and “phytomedicine” were utilized to identify pertinent research papers. These search phrases were applied across the databases of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Case reports, case series, longitudinal studies, and retrospective analyses were not included. PRISMA standards were followed in this review.

A total of fifteen (n=24) randomized clinical trials about herbal drugs and periodontal implications and three (n=3) trials on dental hypersensitivity were assessed. The trials assessed the use of various herbal products in treating periodontal and per-implant conditions.

Plant-based phytochemicals have anti-inflammatory effects that could be used as an alternative to treat periodontal and peri-implant conditions. Recent research on the different active components included in this study show significant improvements in the clinical parameters. To suggest them as substitutes for the non-herbal elements, more research is necessary.