Publications

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of Acacia Arabica (AA) and Tea Tree Oil (TTO) gels in the treatment of gingival inflammation and enlargement in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances. Materials and Methods: Three groups of 30 patients under orthodontic treatment having gingival enlargement were selected randomly with age range from 18 - 30 years old and divided into 10 patients in each group. Where patients in Group A treated with scaling and root planing (S/RP) in addition to the application of Acacia arabica gel. Patients in Group B were treated with S/RP and application of TTO gel, whereas patients in Group C were treated with S/RP alone. The presence of supragingival biofilm and marginal gingival bleeding were recorded with the PI (Plaque index), GI (Gingival index), BI (bleeding index), PD (probing pocket depth) and GOG (gingival overgrowth index). Subgingival plaque was collected using sterilized Gracey curette by inserting it subgingivally into the deepest portion of the periodontal pocket, and then samples were evaluated using multiplex PCR after DNA extraction. Each participant had been clinically evaluated at baseline (T0), after 1 month (T1) and after 3 months (T2). Plaque samples were collected from each participant at T0 and at T2. Results: Acacia arabica gel showed significant clinical improvement (P < 0.05) at the end of the study with a mean value score of plaque index (0.9) in group A as compared to control group C (1.8). This improvement was comparable to Tebodont gel (0.9) in group B. These results were almost the same for GI, BI, PD and GOG index. Also bacterial count showed a reduction from baseline and after 3 months with significant difference in group A and B comparing them with group C. P. gingivalis bacteria was detected, with reduction in its count. The difference between the two herbal gels with regard to clinical and microbiological parameters were not found to be significant at any time interval. Conclusion: The two different polyherbal gels can be used as an adjunct measure to scaling and root planning and other plaque control methods to treat or reduce clinical and microbiological signs of gingivitis and gingival enlargement in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances.