UNAIR NEWS – In addition to being a nutrient-rich food source, cocoa turns out to have antioxidant and anti-microbial properties and it has the potential to improve root canal disinfection. It was explained by Prof. Dr. Tamara Yunita, drg., MS, Sp.KG (K) at the inauguration of UNAIR Professor, December 19, 2019 at Garuda Mukti Hall, Campus C UNAIR Management Office.
Previously, Prof. Tamara explained that some materials, that are often used to eliminate bacteria in the root canals, have quite high damaging rate especially if there is a dental shift. Chemicals can potentially damage vital tissue around the tip of the tooth root.
She also said that about 80 percent of infections are estimated to be caused by microbes that form biofilms (a collection of microorganism cells, ed). “As we know that the oral cavity is inhabited by a variety of microbes with adverse or beneficial effect,” she explained.
The twenty-seventh active professor of Faculty of Dental Medicine (FKG) explained that East Java’s propolis extract and forestero cocoa peel extract had an antibacterial and antibiofilm effect. Therefore, they are very potential as a root canal sterilization agent.
Prof. Tamara revealed, the herbal material was able to be an alternative of sterilization solutions in improving root canal disinfection which is widely used today. “Cocoa peel extract can inhibit the formation of bacterial biofilms and it has a low level of damage,” she said.
What is special, the herbal ingredients are able to adjust to the cell culture of tooth supporting tissue. “Its antimicrobial activity is better than the chemical one. It is also safer to use, ” she said.
Prof. Tamara’s research utilizes the cocoa fruit waste often found in Indonesia. In chocolate production, cocoa seeds are often used while more than 73 percent of the outer skin is removed and becomes waste.
As one of the collaborative researches, the results are expected to be a potential and biocompatible sterilizing agent in root canal treatment. “Now it is time for us to interact with each other between faculties to look for basic problems developing in society,” she concluded the speech. (*)
Author: Erika Eight Novanty
Editor: Feri Fenoria Rifa’i
