The effect of toothpaste containing gambier (Uncaria gambir Roxb.) 10% extract on decreasing dental plaque index: an experimental study

Abstract

Introduction: Dental plaque is a major etiological factor in various oral diseases, including dental caries and periodontitis, which are highly prevalent in Indonesia. Toothbrushing can reduce dental plaque accumulation through mechanical and chemical mechanisms. Gambier (Uncaria gambir Roxb.) has potential as an antibacterial agent in toothpaste because it contains catechins and tannins, which exhibit bacteriolytic and bacteriostatic activities. This study aimed to determine the effect of toothpaste containing 10% gambier (Uncaria gambir Roxb.) extract on the dental plaque index. Methods: This experimental study employed a pretest-posttest control group design and was conducted from January to March 2023. Sixty dental students from Sriwijaya University participated. The subjects were divided into two groups: a gambier toothpaste group and a fluoride toothpaste control group, with 30 subjects in each group. The subjects underwent a 21-day toothbrushing adaptation period using the Bass technique, after which the pretest plaque index was measured. Subjects then brushed their teeth for 2 minutes with either gambier toothpaste or fluoride toothpaste and fasted for 4 hours before the posttest plaque index was measured. The plaque index was assessed using the Turesky modification of the Quigley-Hein Plaque Index. We analyzed the data using paired and independent t-tests. Result: Both groups showed a significant reduction in the dental plaque index (p < 0.05). The mean difference between the pretest and posttest plaque indices was 0.677 in the 10% gambier extract toothpaste group and 0.270 in the fluoride toothpaste control group. The reduction in the dental plaque index was significantly greater in the gambier toothpaste group than in the fluoride toothpaste control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Toothpaste containing 10% gambier (Uncaria gambir Roxb.) extract significantly reduced the dental plaque index and demonstrated greater plaque-reducing effectiveness than the fluoride toothpaste used as the control.


Efek penggunaan pasta gigi ekstrak Gambir (Uncaria gambir Roxb.) 10% terhadap penurunan indeks plak gigi: studi eksperimental


Pendahuluan: Plak gigi merupakan penyebab utama berbagai penyakit rongga mulut, seperti karies dan periodontitis, yang merupakan penyakit rongga mulut dengan prevalensi tertinggi di Indonesia. Menyikat gigi dengan pasta gigi dapat mengurangi akumulasi plak gigi melalui metode mekanis dan kimiawi. Gambir (Uncaria gambir Roxb.) berpotensi sebagai antibakteri pada pasta gigi karena memiliki kandungan utama katekin dan tanin, yang bersifat bakteriolisis dan bakteriostatik. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis efek penggunaan pasta gigi ekstrak gambir (Uncaria gambir Roxb.) 10% terhadap penurunan indeks plak gigi. Metode: Penelitian eksperimental dengan desain pretest-postest with control group, dilaksanakan bulan Januari – Maret 2023, dengan subjek sebanyak 60 orang mahasiswa Kedokteran Gigi Universitas Sriwijaya. Subjek dibagi menjadi 2 kelompok, yaitu kelompok pasta gigi gambir dan kelompok kontrol fluoride, dengan subjek sebanyak 30 orang untuk tiap kelompok. Subjek melakukan adaptasi cara menyikat gigi menggunakan teknik Bass selama 21 hari, lalu dilakukan pengukuran skor indeks plak pretest. Subjek menyikat gigi selama 2 menit menggunakan pasta gigi ekstrak gambir 10% atau fluoride, lalu berpuasa selama 4 jam sebelum dilakukan pengukuran skor indeks plak posttest. Skor indeks plak diukur menggunakan indeks plak Turesky-Glimore-Glickman modifikasi Quigley-Hein, dengan analisis data menggunakan uji t-test berpasangan & tidak berpasangan Hasil: Terdapat penurunan indeks plak gigi (p<0,05) pada kedua kelompok, dengan rerata penurunan 0,677 untuk kelompok pasta gigi gambir, dan 0,27 untuk kelompok pasta gigi kontrol fluoride. Penurunan indeks plak gigi pada kelompok pasta gigi gambir lebih besar dibandingkan dengan kelompok kontrol fluoride. Simpulan: Pasta gigi ekstrak gambir (Uncaria gambir Roxb.) 10% dapat menurunkan indeks plak gigi.