Introduction:
Curcumin is a bioactive polyphenol that is extracted from the rhizome of Curcuma longa (turmeric). In the last two decades, curcumin has become a research point of interest as light has been shed on its numerous biological properties specifically in the field of dental or oral medicine. While it is known for its anti-carcinogenic potential, curcumin extract is primarily a therapeutic anti-inflammatory medication with potent antioxidant properties. Many dental research studies have pointed to its multifaceted biological activities, mainly attributing to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antineoplastic properties and its benefits in the management of several inflammatory and chronic systemic pathologies or conditions. Investigations on the role of curcumin in many oral pathologies are not scientifically extensive and a lot of research-based benefits of curcumin in oral medicine are yet to be proved, such as the biological impact of curcumin in treating specific oral pathologies. However, currently, enough research evidence exists to show the use of curcumin in treating or managing periodontitis as an adjunct strategy.
Can Curcumin Be Specifically Used for Managing Periodontal Disease?
Periodontitis or the periodontal group of diseases or infections is one of the leading oral diseases that have a significant global prevalence, especially amongst the middle-aged or high-risk geriatric (elderly) populations. Following dental caries, the major dental disease that is most prevalent in both developed and developing countries is periodontal disease which is the next major cause of tooth mobility resulting in tooth loss. This calls for the need for both soft tissue and prosthetic rehabilitation in many cases.
In periodontitis, cytokines that are produced may make their way into the systemic circulation which can result in other health complications. Periodontitis is closely linked with lifestyle habits, particularly the consumption of alcohol and medications. Severe periodontitis can result in tooth loss and other oral diseases. Periodontitis has even been found to be associated with the manifestation of cancer and respiratory infections.
It is known that periodontal disease is an inflammatory disorder, which is characterized by an extensive marked inflammation of the periodontal tissues, that can progressively result in periodontal bone loss subsequently causing tooth mobility. The onset of periodontitis is usually related to specific oral anaerobes or microbes and their subsequent formation of the biofilm (commonly known as dental plaque) that forms on the outer tooth enamel structure.
Primarily, inadequate oral hygiene would reinforce and worsen or exacerbate the onset as well as the progression of this condition. Even underlying systemic diseases, type 2 diabetes (a long-term condition that impacts how the body utilizes glucose or blood sugar for energy), certain vitamin deficiencies, immunocompromised conditions of the body or hormonal/endocrine diseases, and even some genetic conditions can cause moderate to severe periodontal diseases. A lack of dental awareness or a lack of access to primary dental healthcare is one of the other major reasons for the growing incidence of periodontal diseases.
The objectives of periodontal therapies or therapeutic regimens are to firstly mitigate the soft tissue inflammation and prevent the disease progression or advancement to further stages such as advanced clinical attachment loss (CAL) of gingival tissues and eventually tooth loss.
Currently, the empirical evidence is suggestive of the fact that curcumin would be extremely effective in achieving these primary management objectives thereby aiding in treating periodontal anaerobic infections. Curcumin thus has been a notable element in dental as well as systemic health research.
What Are the Research-Based Oral Benefits of Curcumin?
The following are the research-based oral benefits of curcumin:
- Curcumin compounds would help attenuate the phenomenon of inflammatory cascades happening in the body, in a state of disease. As periodontal disease is primarily a local inflammatory tissue condition surrounding the tooth, curcumin serves the purpose of fighting against inflammation and further potently impedes bacterial proliferation, arresting the chances for disease aggravation.
- Curcumin’s role as an effective antimicrobial agent has also been shown by preliminary research studies in dental medicine where it can counteract probably the irreversible or deleterious impact created by dental biofilm or plaque on tooth enamel.
- Curcumin can act as an antimicrobial agent hence, preventing bacterial apoptosis or programmed cell death, by mainly augmenting the cell membrane permeability of periodontal pathogens, thereby arresting the proliferation of plaque retention or its genesis.
- Deeper mechanisms of how curcumin acts against plaque retention and its anti-inflammatory potential, including current research investigation on the bioavailability of this agent in the oral tissues are yet to be explored, there is clear scientific evidence on the role of curcumin in preventing or averting advancement of periodontal diseases.
What Is the Role of Curcumin in New-Age Therapies?
The role of curcumin in new-age therapies is as follows:
Photosensitization: Curcumin use in photosensitization therapies has been one of the main research focuses over the last few years in managing periodontitis. Several studies show that curcumin holds potency for being a photosensitizer, that can prevent or eliminate the reactive oxygen species levels upon its application or use in illumination through photosensitization. Reactive oxygen species that are circulated locally or systemically by free radicals can be scavenged by antimicrobial agents, which indicates the possible role of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory-rich curcumin compound to fulfill this role.
Nanoformulations: Many innovative advances in curcumin nanoformulations or combinations with other drugs are promising in the management of periodontitis. Curcumin with its antibacterial potential when incorporated into nanoformulations can act against the bacterial proliferation occurring in periodontitis, resist the RNA (ribonucleic acid) damage induced by anaerobes like Staphylococcus aureus and even diminish the effects of Staphylococcus aureus anaerobe counts that are more in periodontitis infections. It can also help prevent the secretion of penicillin-binding proteins or its erythema/ inflammatory and apoptosis-causing pathways.
Conclusion:
Researchers currently have positioned curcumin to be a viable antimicrobial agent that can be employed as an adjunct alternative to the traditional therapeutic periodontal management strategies. More clinical trials and research studies are further needed to gain a deeper insight into the mechanism of action of curcumin to find out its ideal administration method as well as dosage amounts, and so on. Curcumin is a futuristic and safe novel antimicrobial agent in treating periodontal diseases, especially with the advent of its application in newer technologies and methods, as elaborated in this article such as its use in nanoformulations or photosensitization therapies or its combination with other drugs.
