TITLE:
Evaluation of Topical Application of Azadirachta indica (Neem) in Prevention of Gingivitis: A Randomized Control Trial
AUTHORS:
Vibha Singh, Anjani Kumar Pathak, Kopal Goel, Mahesh Pal
KEYWORDS:
Azadirachta, Gingivitis. Anti Plaque
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Stomatology,
Vol.9 No.11,
November
7,
2019
ABSTRACT: Background: The purpose of the present study was to envisage the anti-plaque and anti-inflammatory properties of neem (Azadirachta) in the form of a mouth gel. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 subjects (33 males and 27 females) from age group 19 - 35 years, suffering from mild to moderate gingivitis were randomly divided into two groups. Group A (n = 30) participants were advised experimental (neem) gel and Group B (n = 30) participants were advised 0.2% chlorhexidine gel. All the clinical parameters (the gingival index by Loe and Silness [1], Plaque index by Silness and Loe [2] and sulcus bleeding index by Muhlemann H. R. and Sen S. [3]) were recorded at baseline, on the 14th day and 21st day by the same clinician in both groups. Results: on intragroup comparison the gingival index, plaque index and sulcus bleeding index decrease significantly in both the groups in all assessed periods. On intergroup comparison the indices did not differ significantly at baseline but after 2nd and 3rd week, the indices in Group B decrease more than the group A, which was statistically significant. Conclusion: Based on the observations of our study, it can be concluded that chlorhexidine gluconate as well as neem gel can be effectively used as an adjunct to mechanical plaque control in prevention of plaque and gingivitis. chlorhexidine gluconate gel has been found to be more effective when antiplaque and anti-inflammatory properties were considered. The effect of neem observed maybe because of its anti-inflammatory action. The antiplaque action of chlorhexidine gluconate is due to its substantivity. Substantivity of neem is required to be further studied.