Role of Laksha Churna and Madhu Pratisarana after ultrasonic scaling in the management of Dantasharkara (dental calculus): An open-label, standard controlled randomized clinical trial

Background: Dental calculus is one of the major problems in dentistry, which is characterized by calcified mass that forms on and adheres to the surface of teeth resulting in bad breath, receding gums and chronically inflamed gingiva. It can be correlated with Dantasharkara (dental calculus), which is characterized by the collection of hardened accumulation of Mala (tartar) at the junction of teeth and gums. Ultrasonic scalars are used for the removal of dental calculus for convenience. In texts, Laksha Churna (powder of Laccifer lacca Kerr) has been mentioned as Vranaropaka (wound healing) and indicated for the eliminating plaque through cleaning and polishing tooth surfaces. Aim: This study was aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of local application of Laksha Churna and Madhu (honey) Pratisarana after Dantasharkara Nirharana (scaling of dental calculus) in the management of Dantasharkara (dental calculus). Materials and methods: Patients having calculus deposition, fulfilling the inclusion criteria were selected. In group A, Pratisarana with Laksha Churna (powder) 1 g and Madhu as per requirement was given, whereas in group B, chlor-hexidine gluconate 0.2% for gargling was given for 2 weeks. Ultrasonic scaling was done in both groups before given trial drugs. The outcomes were calculated on the base on changes in score of the subjective parameters like pain, inflammation of gum, bleeding gums, halitosis as well as objective parameters like oral hygiene index, debris index, calculus index, gingival index, and periodontal index. For analysing the effect of the result, Wilcoxon signed-rank test for nonparametric paired data and paired t-test for quantitative parametric paired data was applied. Results: After analysing the data, it was found that Ultrasonic scaling of dental calculus followed by Pratisaraņa of honey with Laksha Churna provided statistically significant improvement in calculus index (97.77%) in debris index (84.44%), in oral hygiene index(96.66%), in gingival index (83.33%)and showed 96.15% improvement in periodontal index, whereas Ultrasonic scaling of dental calculus followed by gargling with chlorhexidine gluconate 0.2% provided 80% improvement in calculus index, 70% in debris index, 90% in oral hygiene index, in gingival index by 73.06%, and 93.75% improvement periodontal index which was statistically significant. Conclusion: The present study indicates Dantasharkara Nirharana followed by Pratisarana of Laksha Churna and Madhu is comparatively more effective than conventional standard treatment protocol (ultrasonic scaling and chlorhexidine gluconate mouth wash) in the management of dental calculus.