title: Herbal supplement use among adult dental patients in a USA dental school clinic: prevalence, patient demographics, and clinical implications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed the frequency and patterns of utilization of herbal supplement products by adult dental patients at a USA dental school clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  A self-reporting questionnaire was used to collect patient demographics and frequency of herbal supplement utilization along with other information. The questionnaire was distributed and collected at a dental visit. Herbal utilization was related to patient demographics using descriptive analysis. The clinical implications of the findings are discussed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 1,240 questionnaires, 1,119 were returned as completed. Of these, 12.6% reported using ≥1 of 21 herbal products. The majority of the users were middle-aged educated caucasian women. Green tea, garlic, echinacea, ginkgo biloba, and ginseng were the top 5 products used. Mostly, supplements were consumed in combination with drugs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The type, prevalence, and frequency of herbal supplement utilization by adult dental patients in this USA dental clinic were generally similar to those reported for other population groups. This observation, coupled with the documented effects of the commonly used herbal products, should alert dental health caregivers to inquire about herbal supplement use when evaluating or treating their patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912-1128, USA. wabebe@mail.mcg.edu
authors.forename: Worku
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Abebe
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Herman
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Konzelman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003740:Dental Clinics; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020900:Echinacea; D004522:Educational Status; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005737:Garlic; D005845:Georgia; D020441:Ginkgo biloba; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D005894:Panax; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D012575:Schools, Dental; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013662:Tea; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D013662:Tea