Clinical and Radiographic Evaluation of Nigella sativa and Aloe vera as Pulpotomy Medicaments in Primary Teeth: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

AIM: To evaluate the clinical and radiographic efficacy of Nigella sativa and Aloe vera as pulp medicaments in primary molars in comparison to formocresol.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized controlled trial is a three-arm, parallel-group study. This research included 66 vital, carious primary molars that required pulpotomy treatment in 4-7-year-old children. Teeth were randomly assigned to one of the three groups: groups (1-3) Nigella sativa , Aloe vera , and formocresol, respectively. All teeth were covered with stainless steel crowns (SSC) after the pulpotomy procedure was done and were assessed clinically and radiographically at 3, 6, and 12 months following Zurn and Seale criteria.

RESULTS: After 12 months, the clinical success rate was found to be 40, 90, and 72.7% for Nigella sativa , Aloe vera , and formocresol groups, respectively. While the radiographic assessment showed a success rate of 20, 72.7, and 81.8%, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Aloe vera can be considered as an alternative pulpotomy medicament to formocresol. On the other hand, Nigella sativa is not recommended to be used in pulpotomy procedures. Further long-term follow-up clinical studies and histological studies are recommended.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Although formocresol is the most popular used material in pulp therapy, concerns were raised regarding its toxicity and carcinogenicity by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Consequently, herbal medicine is expanding rapidly worldwide nowadays and herbal extracts are suggested as an alternative to formocresol for their proposed antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Sharaf RM, Kabil NS, Youssef FS, et al. Clinical and Radiographic Evaluation of Nigella sativa and Aloe vera as Pulpotomy Medicaments in Primary Teeth: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2023;16(S-2):S195-S201.