Definite, probable or dubious: antioxidants trilogy in clinical dentistry.

Abstract

Recent years have shown the presence of free radicals in causation and progression of various dental diseases and antioxidant usage in dental therapeutics. Antioxidant micronutrients are important not only for limiting oxidative and tissue damage, but also in preventing increased cytokine production, which is a result of prolonged activation of the immune response. There has been a widespread availability and clinical claims on the safety and efficacy of antioxidants. However, lack of randomised controlled trials in dental research limits their usage. There is a substantial gap between these clinical claims and efficacy/safety of antioxidants in dental therapeutics which needs to be addressed. This article highlights the clinical significance of antioxidant therapy in dental practice and touches upon controversial areas and research lacunae. An evidence based approach for making recommendations about antioxidant usage and efficacy in routine dental practice seems to be the need of the hour.

• Authors: S Carnelio, S A Khan, G Rodrigues
• Journal: British dental journal (Br Dent J) Vol. 204 Issue 1 Pg. 29-32 (Jan 12 2008) ISSN: 1476-5373 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 18192996 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antioxidants

Topics

• Antioxidants (administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Dental Care (methods)
• Dietary Supplements
• Humans
• Oxidative Stress (drug effects)
• Periodontitis (drug therapy, prevention & control)