Admissions Open
Admissions Open
Disinfection and shaping of the canal with a combination of chemical agents and endodontic instruments play important roles in the success of endodontic therapy. Root canal irrigants aid in achieving disinfection in canal systems inaccessible to biomechanical preparation. A wide variety of synthetic irrigants are available today but some may be ineffective, and there may be safety concerns and side effects. Herbal alternatives may be advantageous. To evaluate the antibacterial properties of herbal extracts, namely turmeric and triphala as irrigants during endodontic treatment in comparison with the conventional irrigating solutions. Agar well diffusion assay and MIC methods were used to determine the efficacy of the experimental irrigant in removing E. faecalis. The difference between groups was statistically analysed. 2% chlorhexidine showed the highest zone of inhibition against E. faecalis followed by triphala. There was no significant difference between triphala and turmeric but triphala showed more inhibition effect against E. faecalis because of chelating properties. Chlorhexidine has significant antimicrobial efficacy against E. faecalis. Considerable reduction in growth of E. faecalis was seen in the herbal extract groups and considering their non-toxic nature and other physiological benefits, further studies are warranted.