PENGARUH PEMBERIAN LARUTAN EKSTRAK SIWAK (Salvadora persica) TERHADAP PEMBENTUKAN PLAK GIGI

Abstract

Background: Plaque on the teeth provides nutrients for bacteria to grow, causes bacteria colonization, and provides the acidic conditions which will come into contact with the surface of the tooth, so it dissolves the enamel and causing caries. Prevention of plaque formation can be done chemically. In this study, used a solution of miswak extract (Salvadora persica) as a mouthwash, because there are various phytochemical capable of inhibiting plaque formation by lowering the formation of smear layer, reduce viscosity and increase the salivary flow rate, and decrease the number of plaque forming bacteria. This study was meant to know the effect of miswak extract solution on the formation of dental plaque. Methods: This study was an experimental study using post test only control group design. The sample of this study is the students of Qosim Al-Hadi boarding school, Mijen, Semarang. Sixty students were divided randomly into four groups, which is a control group and first, second, and third test groups. The test groups were given 5%, 10% and 25% of miswak extract solutions. Dental plaque score was measured with Stillness&Loe method. Data was statisticaly analyzed with the Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Mann-Whitney test. Results: Kruskal-Wallis test has produced significance value of p<0.001 and in Mann-Whitney test were also found significant differences (p<0.001) of group P1 (5%), P2 (10%), and P3 (25%) when compared to the control group. The results of this study indicated that the dental plaque scores of P1(median = 0.625), P2 (median = 0.500), and P3 (median = 0.125) were lower than K group (median = 0.875). Conclusion: The 5%, 10% and 25% of miswak extract solution inhibited the formation of dental plaque because they had plaque score lower than the control group. The 25% of miswak extract solution was the most effective. Keywords: Miswak extract solution, the formation of dental plaque