At the center of each human tooth is tooth pulp. Tooth pulp contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue, and when it is exposed due to cavities or cracks, it can lead to infection.
That, in turn, could lead to the need for a root canal. To state the obvious, root canals are not a fun experience to endure. In extreme cases, pulp-related problems can result in oral sepsis, which can be life-threatening. In less extreme cases, patients often experience inflammation and pain.
Researchers in Thailand conducted a study focusing on the combined effects of cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to control inflammation and nociception during dental pulp repair. The study’s findings were published in the Journal of Endodontics.
“Human dental pulp cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide and treated with CBD (2.5 μg/mL), THC (0.6 μg/mL), and their combination.” the researchers wrote. “Cell viability, proliferation, and migration assays were performed to evaluate treatment effects on cellular behaviors associated with pulpal repair and regenerative potential.”
“Compared with either treatment alone, the CBD/THC combination more effectively attenuated pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-12, and IL-1β, enhanced cannabinoid receptor type 1 and cannabinoid receptor type 2 expression, modulated transient receptor potential vanilloid 1, and increased IL-10 expression. Viability assays determined optimal non-cytotoxic concentrations for treatment.” the researchers found.
“Combined CBD and THC show promise for promoting dental pulp healing by modulating inflammation and nociceptive signaling, while supporting odontogenic differentiation, angiogenesis, and cell migration in human dental pulp cells.” the researchers concluded.
The recent study builds on prior studies that also demonstrated the potential benefits of dental professionals incorporating cannabinoids into treatments. For example, a previous randomized clinical trial conducted in Scotland found that CBD can effectively treat acute dental pain.
“Based on this randomized clinical trial, pure CBD drug Epidiolex demonstrates effective analgesia against acute toothache,” the study’s authors concluded.
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