Improvement of Dentin Growth Parameters (Beta-catenin, bFGF, CD105, and BMP4) with Propolis as Adjuvant in Dental Caries Treatment.

OBJECTIVE:  The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)(2)) and propolis in pulp capping for dental caries treatment, focusing on dentin growth parameters. The study also aims to determine the role of propolis as a natural adjuvant therapy in enhancing reparative dentin development while emphasizing the importance of proper technique and material preparation with markers for the expression of beta-catenin, bFGF, CD105, and BMP4. MATERIALS AND METHODS:  The left bottom molar teeth from 28 Wistar rats were divided into four groups. The first group, the control group, was given only aqua dest, and the second group received drilling treatment and additional therapies with Ca(OH)(2) (Ca(OH)(2)) 0.625 μg. The third group was given drilling treatment and additional therapies with a combination of propolis with Ca(OH)(2) 0.781 μg until day 7. Finally, the fourth group received a combination of propolis with Ca(OH)(2) 0.781 μg until day 14. This research analyzed the expression of essential basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), CD105, beta-catenin, and bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4). RESULTS:  This research reports that the average expression of BMP4 and bFGF showed a significant result in treatment with additional therapies with propolis and Ca(OH)(2). The experiment indicates that propolis and Ca(OH)(2) could induce reparative dentine on days 7 and 14. CONCLUSION:  Propolis as an adjuvant shows better reparative dental formation with improvement in the expression of bFGF and BMP4 in 14 days of therapy.