Role of propolis in dentistry: review of the literature

Abstract

Background Propolis (also called bee glue) is a resinous substance derived from bees. It has long been used in medicine for its beneficial properties, including antimicrobial, anti‐inflammatory, antidiabetic and local anaesthetic effects. In dentistry, propolis has been used for the prevention of dental caries and periodontal diseases, as an interim transport medium for avulsed teeth, and in endodontics, orthodontics and periodontics. Objective To highlight the role of propolis in dentistry. Methods A PubMed search was made using the keywords propolis, beeglue, antimicrobial, dental and herbs without any limits on the date of publication. No specific inclusion or exclusion criteria were applied as the purpose of the review was to make it as comprehensive as possible. Discussion The role of propolis is discussed in various branches of dentistry, including: preventive dentistry, dental traumatology, endodontics, periodontology, orthodontics and oral oncology. Conclusion Although most research published in the dental literature on propolis is based on in‐vitro studies or animal studies, extrapolating the results of these present studies to clinical practice may be too early as these results may not be necessarily replicated in human trials. In future, propolis may find a definitive role in one or more applications in dentistry; however, clinical trials are necessary to isolate the individual components responsible for its beneficial effects and to study them.

Efficacy of propolis in remineralising artificially induced demineralisation of human enamel - An in-vitro study

“…Other important constituents of propolis include minerals, vitamins, and amino acids. 21 It has been researched extensively in the field of medicine and dentistry and has many clinical applications. 22 …”

Beneficial effects of specific natural substances on oral health

“…The constituents of propolis include polyphenols, waxes, aromatic acids, and volatile oils. 21 , 22 Royal jelly is a substance that is produced by the hypopharyngeal and mandibular glands of worker bees. Royal jelly is used for meeting the nutritional demands of the queen bee and larvae because it is rich in proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and vitamins.…”

Health from the Hive: Propolis as an Adjuvant in the Treatment of Chronic Periodontitis - A Clinicomicrobiologic Study

“…Once collected, this material is enriched with saliva and enzymecontaining secretions and used in the construction, adaptation, and protection of hives [9]. The medicinal properties of propolis have been investigated previously [10,11].…”