Comparative evaluation of the efficacy of aloe vera juice, amla juice, and milk as storage media in maintaining the periodontal ligament cell viability

Abstract

Background: Tooth avulsion implies total displacement of the tooth out of its socket. Many storage media such as milk, saliva, Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS), propolis, Viaspan, have been studied as storage medias for preserving PDL cell viability. Amongst these, HBSS has been proposed as the storage medium of choice for treatment of avulsed teeth by the American Associations of Endodontists. However, the major disadvantage is that it is not easily available at places where these traumatic injuries occur. Aim: To evaluate and compare the efficacy of aloe vera juice, amla juice, milk and water in maintaining the periodontal ligament cell viability of avulsed teeth. Study Design: Forty premolars extracted for orthodontic therapeutic purposes were randomly and equally divided into four groups based on storage media used [Group I: aloe vera juice; Group II: amla juice; Group III: milk; Group IV: water. Following extractions, the teeth were dried for 30 mins and were placed in one of the four different storage media for 45 minutes, following which the scrapings of the PDL from these teeth were collected in Falcon tubes containing collagenase enzyme in 2.5 mL of phosphate buffered saline.