EVALUTION OF TURMERIC AND THYME AS ROOT CANAL IRRIGANTS ON PRIMARY TEETH

Objectives: To assess the antimicrobial effect of turmeric and thyme as root canal irrigants on Enterococcus Faecalis bacteria lives in primary teeth root canals. Subjects and methods: This study was carried out with informed consent, on fifty-four children suffering from non-vital primary molars indicated to pulpectomy and selected from Outpatient clinic of pedodontics and oral health department, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Al-Azhar University. Children ′ s teeth (54) were divided into three equal groups (18 eac): Group A: Molars roots of this group were irrigated with Turmeric solution. Group B: Molars roots of this group were irrigated with Thyme solution. Group C: Molars roots of this group were irrigated with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) solution (control group). Microbiological culturing and counting of Enterococcus Faecalis were done after The collection at baseline and post-treatment samples for each group. Results: NaOCl group had the highest antibacterial efficacy (83.4%) against E. faecalis, followed by Turmeric extract group (56.7%), then Thyme oil group (55.6%). Conclusion: NaOCl is still the irrigant of choice and has superior antibacterial effect than that of Turmeric and Thyme needs more investigation and additives to increase their efficacy.