Antimicrobial efficacy of two commercially available herbal products with and without ultrasonic activation in primary endodontic infections: A randomized clinical trial.

Background: Effective irrigation is crucial for successful endodontic treatment. Traditional irrigants like sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) have been widely used, but there is a growing interest in exploring natural alternatives for their potential antimicrobial properties. Objective: The study aims to compare the antimicrobial efficacy of Neem, Bitter Gourd, and NaOCl, with and without ultrasonic activation in managing primary endodontic infections. Materials and Methods: Ninety patients were randomly assigned six groups (n = 15) Group 1: NaOCl, Group 2: NaOCl with passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI), Group 3: Neem juice, Group 4: Neem juice with PUI, Group 5: Bitter gourd juice, and Group 6: Bitter gourd juice with PUI. Bacteriological samples were collected before (S1) and after (S2) shaping, plated on brain heart infusion agar, and colony counting was done after 24 h. Statistical Analysis Used: Shapiro-Wilk test, one-way ANOVA, post hoc Tukey analysis, and paired t-test. Results: All the groups demonstrated a significant reduction in bacterial count. Groups with PUI (2, 4, 6) demonstrated higher mean bacterial reduction than their counterparts without PUI (1, 3, 5). Conclusion: Neem and Bitter gourd juices, particularly when used with PUI, demonstrated antimicrobial efficacy comparable to NaOCl with PUI.

Effect of four different intracanal medicaments on the apical seal of the root canal system: a dye extraction study.

AIM: The aim was to determine the effect of four different intracanal medicaments on the apical seal of the root canal system in vitro. METHODOLOGY: Fifty freshly extracted intact human permanent maxillary central incisors were collected, stored and disinfected. The root canals were prepared to a master apical size of number 50 using step back technique. Depending upon the intracanal medicament used, the teeth were divided randomly into five groups of 10 teeth each including one control group and four experimental groups. Group A: No intracanal medicament. Group B: Calcium hydroxide powder mixed with distilled water. Group C: Calcium hydroxide gutta percha points (calcium hydroxide points). Group D: 1% chlorhexidine gel (hexigel). Group E: Chlorhexidine gutta percha points (Roeko Activ Points). The medication was left in canals for 14 days. Following removal of the intracanal medicament, all the groups were obturated with lateral compaction technique. The apical leakage was then evaluated using dye extraction method with the help of a spectrophotometer. RESULTS: RESULTS were statistically analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U-test, which showed statistically significant difference among the five groups tested. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded from this study that the control group showed least amount of leakage, whereas the 1% chlorhexidine gel group showed maximum amount of leakage. Apical leakage was observed with all the experimental groups with little variations in between them. Under the parameters of this study, it can be concluded that use of intracanal medicaments during endodontic treatment has a definite impact on the apical seal of the root canal system.