Cavity Disinfection with Natural Agents and their Efficacy: A Review on Recent Literature

The success of a dental restoration can be altered by the amount of residual bacteria present under the cavity which over time cause deterioration of adhesive cement by microleakage or secondary caries. Cavity disinfectant application on the cavity walls performs a cleansing ac-tion to decrease the bacterial load and improve the longevity of restorations. Although a wide variety of such chemical disinfectants have been in use, their cytotoxic effects have led to the increasing popularity of natural agents. These materials possess antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which effectively disinfect cavity walls while, at the same time, being cheaper, less toxic, and more patient-friendly. Some of these agents have also been proven to improve the bond strength of resin to dentin by preventing collagen degradation and MMP inhibition. Propolis, aloe vera, chitosan, green tea, liquorice etc., are derived from parts of plants or animals and have been tested to be efficacious and, in some cases, superior to chemical alternatives without any erosive effect on dentin. Although there is a lack of enough in-vivo evidence to advocate the use of these products as an adjunct in dental therapy, recent studies have yielded promising results, which increases the scope for future clinical research. This review aims to highlight the properties and effectiveness of a few of such natural agents as potential cavity disinfectants.