Involvement of Ayurvedic Practitioners in Oral Health Care in the United States

Background: Ayurveda, an ancient Medical science originating in India, is also practiced in the U.S. The specific aim of this study was to explore the involvement of Ayurvedic practitioners in treating oral diseases.

Methods: Eighty five practitioners participated in this cross-sectional survey. Self-reported data on demographics of the practitioners, the general and oral health conditions they treat, and the treatment modalities used were obtained. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were performed using SPSS. Results: Participants were predominantly female, white or non-Hispanic, and were part-time practitioners. Their educational background ranged from 5.5-year degrees to short-term training. Over forty percent reported that they treat oral diseases. Conditions treated were related to oral malodor, gum or periodontal disease, and tooth ache. Ayurvedic treatments given for these conditions were primarily preventive in nature.

Conclusions: Ayurvedic practitioners in the U.S. treat a variety of oral diseases using predominantly preventive traditional care. Asians and those who practiced for a longer duration were more likely to treat oral diseases. Larger population based studies are needed to further understand the current role of Ayurvedic practitioners in oral health care. Ayurvedic treatment modalities aimed at oral diseases need to be evaluated through rigorous randomized controlled trials for safety and efficacy/effectiveness.

Practice Implications: Patients with limited or no access to care and those seeking conventional dental care might also rely on Ayurvedic treatment for their oral health care. Ayurvedic preventive treatments, mostly based on natural products, can be incorporated in to overall preventive care regimes, if proven safe and effective.