Pharmaceuticals have been a mainstay for medical treatments for many years. In dentistry however, the use of pharmaceuticals is rare, in part due to the expense of pharma-based therapies, which are not cost-competitive for most dental disorders, coupled with their limited effectiveness and concerns about over use of antibiotics resulting in bacterial resistance.

Naturally occurring compounds that include plant extracts (many of these are alkaloids) and probiotics are reported to have therapeutic properties effective in treating numerous diseases. In terms of effectiveness in treating oral-dental diseases natural compounds, both in-office and homecare, including mouth rinses, toothpastes, and local delivery, are reported to have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and analgesic potency. Moreover in many cases the molecular cell biology has been established and shown to involve the same pathways targeted by pharmaceuticals. Since the regulatory requirements for approval of natural compounds for use in patients is far easier than pharmaceuticals, these types of compounds offer viable alternatives for use in prevention and treatment of oral-dental diseases.

It is not surprising that there has been an increased interest by oral health-care providers and consumers in identifying evidence-based natural products as approaches for prevention and treatment of oral-dental diseases. With the increased interest in natural compounds, it is imperative that researchers inform the broader community of the evidence supporting the use of specific natural products.

Toward this end we welcome contributions in the form of original research, reviews, case reports, and perspectives that cover, but are not limited to, the following themes.

1. Mechanism of action for specific natural compound
2. Clinical Trials
3. Novel in vivo and in vitro models
4. Tools and technologies for isolation and identification of biological function of natural products

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Frontiers in Dental Medicine

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