UNAIR NEWS – At the end of December 2019, Universitas Airlangga inaugurated its Professor on Wednesday, December 18. Prof. Dr. Intan Nirwana, drg., M. Kes inaugurated as one of the newest 23rd active professors in Faculty of Dental Medicine (FKG). The event carried out at Garuda Mukti Hall, UNAIR Management Office Building. She highlighted the problem of dental caries which is a public health problem for almost all countries in the world.
“Based on World Health Organization, the prevalence of dental caries in adults in most countries in the world reaches more than 90 %,” said her.
Dental caries is a disease of damage to structures and layers of teeth that occur gradually. Starting from the outer layer of enamel, dentin, until cementum as the root of a tooth. According to Prof. Diamond, dental caries is caused by four main factors, namely food, bacteria, time to the teeth themselves. Besides, inflammation of the dental pulp tissue is caused by mechanical trauma called pulpitis. Teeth that are perforated due to mechanical injury need direct pulp capping. This method can maintain health, function, and vitality of the pulp.
Through these facts, Prof. Intan explored further the suggestions of previous researchers in the modification of material about direct pulp capping, especially in materials that contain high anti-oxidants. One of the herbal ingredients for dental caries and direct pulp capping is a pomegranate plant.
“Pomegranates have traditionally long been known to have therapeutic activities. It includes anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, anti-parasitic, to anti-function. In this research, I used standardized pomegranate with 40% of allegic acid, “said the professor.
The study was carried out with white rat molars that have similar teeth characteristics to humans. In the open pulp that was given pomegranate extract gel, it was seen that the gel was able to inhibit the translocation of nuclear kappa beta factors into the cell nucleus. It made the teeth well inflamed because the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 decreases and IL-10 anti-inflammatory cytokines increase. Interleukin 10 is the key to the immune system that can limit the inflammatory response that causes tissue damage, and it is an essential factor for immune system homeostasis.
From this research, Prof. Intan said that proper inflammation regulation could be characterized by increased expression of Transforming Growth Factor-βeta 1, low expression of MMP-1 and high expression of type 1 collagen. TGF-β1 itself plays a significant role in regulating MMP-1 and TIMP-1, so degradation in type 1 colleagues is not excessive. This increased collagen expression can accelerate pulp healing.
Author: Intang Arifia
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
