From the Hive to the Clinic: Clinical Case Studies Illustrating the Use of Propolis in Dentistry

Abstract

Background
Propolis has been increasingly investigated in dentistry due to its antimicrobial, antiinflammatory, analgesic, and regenerative properties. Several clinical applications have been reported; however, detailed case-based documentation remains limited.

Objective
This article presents a series of clinical case studies originally introduced at an international conference and subsequently expanded to provide a comprehensive description suitable for a scientific readership. The aim is to illustrate the clinical use of propolis-based treatments across different dental disease groups.

Materials and Methods
Clinical cases from daily dental practice were retrospectively analyzed. The cases included patients aged between 14 and 75 years and covered five main clinical categories: endodontic infections, periodontal disease, deep carious lesions, prosthetic-related fungal infections, and post-extraction wound management. Propolis was applied mainly as a 5% solution, either alone or in combination with other biomaterials such as calcium hydroxide, hydroxyapatite, or calcium alginate. Clinical and radiographic follow-up ranged from one week to one month, depending on the indication.

Results
In endodontic cases, propolis demonstrated effective antibacterial and antiinflammatory activity, contributing to pain reduction and periapical healing. Periodontal applications showed visible improvement in gingival inflammation within one week. In deep carious lesions, propolis-supported treatments
promoted pulp vitality and dentin bridge formation after one month. Prosthetic cases involving Candida albicans infection exhibited marked mucosal healing
within 7–15 days. Post-extraction use of propolis combined with calcium alginate supported normal wound healing and helped prevent alveolar osteitis.

Conclusions
The presented case studies suggest that propolis is a safe and versatile adjunctive agent in various dental treatments. When standardized and properly
applied, propolis may support infection control, inflammation reduction, and tissue regeneration. Further controlled clinical studies are warranted to confirm
these observations and to establish standardized treatment protocols.