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1: Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1992 Jun;73(6):729-37.Links

Biologic properties of eugenol and zinc oxide-eugenol. A clinically oriented review.

Markowitz K, Moynihan M, Liu M, Kim S.

Division of Endodontics, School of Dental and Oral Surgery, Columbia University, New York, NY.

Eugenol-containing dental materials are frequently used in clinical dentistry. When zinc oxide-eugenol (ZOE) is applied to a dentinal cavity, small quantities of eugenol diffuse through the dentin to the pulp. Low concentrations of eugenol exert anti-inflammatory and local anesthetic effects on the dental pulp. Thus use of ZOE temporary filling may facilitate pulpal healing; on the other hand, high eugenol concentrations are cytotoxic. Direct application of eugenol to pulp tissue may result in extensive tissue damage. The ability of ZOE-based endodontic sealers to influence periapical tissue healing is considered in view of eugenol's anti-inflammatory and toxic properties.

PMID: 1437045 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]