In a recent study from the November 2006 issue of the Journal of General Dental Society (AGD), a clinical peer-reviewed journal, the authors examined mouthwash containing essential oils and their effect on oral repair materials. Rehab materials studied herein include amalgams (silver / mercury mixtures for fillers), glass ionomers (for bonding gold and ceramic crowns to teeth), and composite resins (tooth fillers). The authors continuously exposed these materials to oral irrigation fluid and distilled water for 10 days. The material was placed in a three hole oral care device, each containing specimens of each type of prosthetic material, and the volunteer patient was wearing a mask for 12 hours a day for 10 days. The patient was rinsed twice daily with commercial mouthwash and after 10 days the material was removed from the device and examined. Observe and compare the strength and appearance of the material.
Overall, the study found that even long-term exposure to mouthwash containing essential oils has little effect on the strength or surface of any type of dental restoration.
