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Does the use of natural products for endodontic therapy in primary teeth have sufficient evidence for clinical practice? A scoping review

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Abstract

Objectives

The use of natural products for pulp therapy has experienced a remarkable advancement in recent years. The aim was to provide a critical appraisal of the safety and efficacy of natural products for endodontic therapy in primary teeth and verify whether their uses in clinical practice have sufficient evidence.

Materials and methods

Two reviewers searched ten databases (Cochrane, DOSS, Embase, Google Scholar, LILACS, OpenGrey, Proquest, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) until January 2022, identifying references that evaluated the safety and efficacy of the use of natural products for endodontic therapy in primary teeth. Cohort, randomized, and non-randomized clinical trials were included.

Results

A total of 3583 references were initially identified. From the 63 studies retrieved for full-text reading, 37 fulfilled the selection criteria and were included in the qualitative analysis. The studies investigated 19 natural products for pulpotomy medicament, irrigating solution, intracanal medication, and root canal filling material. Most studies showed similar efficacy of natural products and their control groups; however, many methodological biases and concerns about the safety and efficacy of natural products were identified, questioning their clinical applicability.

Conclusions

The included studies provided insufficient evidence to support safe and effective clinical application of natural products for endodontic therapy in primary teeth. Future well-designed studies with representative samples are needed to support the use of natural products for endodontic therapy in primary teeth.

Clinical relevance.

The use of natural products for endodontic therapy in primary teeth requires caution by clinicians, due to the insufficient available evidence.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dentistry, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Brazil

    Filipe Colombo Vitali & Cleonice da Silveira Teixeira

  2. Department of Endodontics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry, Richmond, VA, USA

    Ana Cristina Andrada

  3. Department of Dentistry, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil

    Helhen Cristina da Luz Cardoso, Loise Pedrosa Salles, Erica Negrini Lia & Carla Massignan

  4. Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

    Gesner Francisco Xavier-Junior

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  1. Filipe Colombo Vitali
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Vitali, F.C., Andrada, A.C., Cardoso, H.C.d. et al. Does the use of natural products for endodontic therapy in primary teeth have sufficient evidence for clinical practice? A scoping review. Clin Oral Invest 26, 6043–6060 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-022-04633-4

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