Role of Herbs in Endodontics: An Update

Abstract

Treatment involving Endodontics and root canal therapy comprises of extirpation of infected pulpal tissue along with a variety of microbial organisms from root canal spaces for prevention of any increase in infection of peri- radicular soft tissues while at the same time allowing the healing of surrounding tissues. Performing root canal therapy includes the usage of different chemical-based irrigating medications for disinfecting root canal or endodontic space. The most commonly used chemical irrigating agents are sodium hypochlorite, chlorhexidine, or EDTA. Irrigation is a repeatedly used process that is performed for reducing the total bacterial count within any root canal(s). To accomplish good irrigation, large assortments of irrigating medications are commercially available as of this day. However, these agents or drugs may prove to be toxic, have various safety concerns, and may exhibit various side effects. Due to this reason, different alternatives of herbal derivation are used as endodontic or root canal irrigants as these have distinctly high safety profiles and are less cytotoxic. Herbal irrigating products are largely popular as a result of ease of availability, greater cost-effectiveness, and increase in shelf life as well as low degree of toxicity. In recent years, an increase in the trend for seeking natural-based remedies in all types of treatment protocols in dentistry is being explored. This branch of herbal medications is known as ‘ethnopharmacology’ or ‘phytotherapy’. Hence, the current review paper aims at an overview of various plant-derived endodontic irrigating agents along with their effectiveness in irrigating root canals during endodontic therapy.