Subject(s)
Humans , Education, Medical , Dentistry , Curriculum , Education, Medical, Undergraduate , Education, Medical, Graduate , TeachingABSTRACT
Extract of Boswellia Serrata species has been used in the Indian traditional medicine in the treatment of various inflammatory diseases. The present study was designed to evaluate anti-inflammatory effects of Frankincense in the treatment of gingivitis, which is a periodontal tissue inflammatory disease. This double blind randomized placebo controlled trial was carried out among high school female students with moderate plaque-induced gingivitis. Based on either administration of 0.1 gram of Frankincense extract or 0.2 gram of its powder or placebo and whether the patients undergone scaling and root planning [SRP] or not, they were randomly assigned to 6 groups. The primary efficacy outcome was changes in Gingival Index [Loe and Sillness] and the secondary outcomes were alteration in plaque index [Sillness and Loe], bleeding index [Cowell] and probing pocket depth [WHO probe]. All indices were measured in the 0, 7th and 14th days of the study. Seventy five patients ranged of 15-18 years old were enrolled. At the end of the study, the indices in all groups showed significant decreases in comparison to the first day [p<0.05], except for the bleeding index in the group without SRP and drug therapy [p=0.111]. More precise analysis of data revealed that SRP in association with Frankincense application [either extract or powder] can lead to remarkable decrease in inflammatory indices in comparison to the groups without SRP and drug therapy [p<0.001]. In addition, no significant difference was observed between powder or extract therapy [p>0.05] and between patients received either SRP or treatment alone [p=0.169]. Frankincense, a safe and low-cost herbal medicine, may be feasibly applied to improve inflammation based disease of gingival as an adjunct to the conventional mechanical therapy