Original Article
Published on 15-11-2002


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En español, por favor

HOMEOPATHIC THERAPY DURING IMPACTED CANINE TREATMENT

Mazzocchi A. R.*, Batisti D.**

*MD, DDS, V.J.O. Associated Editor, Private Practitioner

**DDS, Private Practitioner

Corresponding author: Dr. Alberto R. Mazzocchi Via Rosmini 2, 24100 Bergamo Italy e-mail: alberto@edentist.it

Keywords: Homeopatic therapy, Oral surgery, Impacted canine.

Abstract: The authors explain theirs clinical experiences using homeopatic remedies in impacted canine treatment.

INTRODUCTION
An Italian survey on "Health conditions and National Service 1999-2000" conducted by Istat interviewed 30 000 families from September to December 1999. The results indicated that many individuals had tried Non Conventional Medicine (1) from 1991 to 1999. Although 25% of the European population had tried NCM once in their life (65% of the whole population in Germany and 48% in France uses NCM), a different situation was observed in Italy where NCM was practiced by only 15% of the population during the last several years. Among NCM, Homeopathy is the most popular medicine in Italy. The increasing interest tio avoid antibiotic or antinflammatory treatment concerns children who may require minor surgery such as impacted canine exposure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the most common homeopathic remedies, which can be used following canine exposure surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
20 patients (10 male and 10 female) with a total of 29 impacted canines were operated for canine exposure between 2000 and 2002. Unilateral maxillary impacted canines were found in 11 cases; bilateral maxillary impaction in 8 cases and maxillary bilateral associated with mandibular unilateral in 1 case. Ages ranged from 13 to 17 years. Surgery was conducted by raising a mucoperiosteal flap in the palate or a partial thickness flap with apical repositioning in the vestibular area (2). Three homeopathic remedies were prescripted: Arnica Montana 30 or 7 CH, Hypericum Perforatum 7 CH and China Rubra 15 CH. Three parameters were examined: - swelling - pain - bleeding
Fig 1: lingual button is bonded on the impacted canine
Fig 2: immediate suture
Fig 3: follow up after 7 days
Fig 4: Lingual button on the impacted canine
Fig 5: Immediate suture
Fig 6: follow up after 7 days

RESULTS
 Patients were visited after 48 hours and 7 days after the surgical procedure. Postoperative swelling was moderate only in 2 cases after 48 hours and absent after 7 days. Pain was absent in all 20 cases, both immediately and later. Bleeding of the palatal flap was observed in 1 case after 12 hours. It lasted 15 minutes and it ended after compression with dry gauze.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS
 Homeopathic research is based on many experiments taken first on healthy volunteers and later on sick individuals. According to homeopathic principles, every living organism has its own power to control diseases. Ancient people called it "Vis Medicatrix Naturae". This physical phenomenon depends on the individual vital force. As R. Sankaran (3) reports, disease is a decreasing or imbalance in the vital force of every person. For this reason, Homeopathy doesn't fight bacteria or viruses, but it tries to re-equilibrate vital force of the person in order to obtain his own self healing abilities. Homeopathy was experimented and described by S. Hahnemann approximately in 1790; it rediscovered older concepts by Hippocrates, whose saying was: "Similia similibus curentur" that is what poisons or intoxicates, can heal if it is given at very low doses. This statement was confirmed by Arndt and Scultz experiments, in recent years. They confirmed the law of inverted effect of a substance depending on its dose. Usual analgesic drugs for minor surgical procedures are nimesulide or naproxen. They always have side effects on the digestive system (gastritis, ulcers, colitis) or on the hematopoiethic system. In children, sometimes another drug called paracethamol is used due to its less aggressive side effects on the digestive mucosa. Unfortunately it has other side effects (allergy or liver toxicity). The correct homeopathic remedy is individual and it's prescripted after a general exam of the patient.
Arnica
Hypericum

Nevertheless there are a few general remedies such as Arnica and Hypericum, which can be used by any patient. These remedies have no side effects on internal organs. Arnica Montana 7 CH is useful to reduce and control post operative pain and swelling (4). This homeopathic remedy can stimulate coagulation, reducing bleeding and improving hematoma reabsorption. It facilitates micro circulation and it speeds up tissue healing (5-6). Arnica can be taken 2 or 3 days before the operation (Arnica Montana 30 CH) in order to prepare tissues for surgical trauma and for 2-3 days after in order to improve healing and pain reduction (7). Homeopathic treatment can replace traditional drugs, but, in an emergency, it can be associated without reducing its efficacy. Hypericum Perforatum is a very effective remedy in controlling pain. It comes from a plant of the Ipericacee family. From a pharmacological point of view, Hypericum has a sedative effect due to ipercina and some antiseptic properties due to essential oils (6). Hypericum Perf. 7 CH can be taken immediately after an operation and repeated every 10-15 minutes until pain subsides. China Rubra, once called Chincona Succirubra, comes from the China tree (Radiance family), which is found in South America. Imported from Peru since the seventeenth century, China was very popular in intermittent fever treatment (8). China may be used in 2 ways: bleeding prevention for patients with negative case history or bleeding prevention for patients under anticoagulant therapy. In the first case, the homeopathic remedy can be taken 6 hours before the operation in a single dose; in the latter case, China is taken during the 2-3 days before the operation with a 15 or 30 CH dose (9). This remedy can prevent bleeding without creating thromboses. China and Arnica have a synergistic effect, improving tissue local healing and reducing swelling (10). The results of the present study showed good tolerance and efficacy of the homeopathic remedies. These remedies can be used successfully during the minor oral surgery operations which can be requested in orthodontic treatment.

References:

  1. Gargiulo L. Le terapie non convenzionali in Italia. Istat- Struttura e dinamica sociale, 18 Aprile 2001
  2. Mazzocchi A et Coll. Validità e limiti del recupero chirurgico ortodontico dei canini inclusi. Dentista Moderno. 1989; numero 6:1359-1376
  3. Sankaran R. Lo spirito dell'omeopatia. 1998; Ed. Salus Infirmorum, Padova
  4. Boyd L. Il simile in medicina. 2001; Ed. Libreria Cortina, Verona (A study of the Simile in Medicine, Boericke & Tafel, Philadelphia, 1936)
  5. Gatti V. L'omeopatia in odontoiatria. Cahiers de Biotherapie 1999 ; 4: 52-55
  6. Gasparini L. Studio di materia medica omeopatica. 2000; Ed. Salus Infirmorum, Padova
  7. Allen H.C. Keynotes and Characteristics with comparison. Ed. Ce.M.O.N. 1980
  8. Mazzocchi A. "Terapia omeopatica nella piccola chirurgia orale" Dentista Moderno. 2002; numero 4: 85-93
  9. Jouanny J. et Coll. Homéopathie-Thérapeutique et Matière médicale. 1998 ; ed. Boiron, Lyon. 10- Meuris J. Odontostomatologia omeopatica. 1991; Red Edizioni, Como

To cite this article please write:

Mazzocchi A. R., Batisti D. Homeopathic therapy during impacted canines treatment. Virtual Journal of Orthodontics [serial online] 2002 November 15; 5(1): Available from URL:http://www.vjo.it/051/ome.htm



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