Antimicrobial Efficacy of Different Root Canal Irrigants in Primary Teeth: Clinical Study

: Objective: Evaluation of antibacterial efficacy of 2.5% Sodium Hypochlorite (NaOCl), 3.8% Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF), and 25% water-soluble extract of Propolis as root canal irrigants in primary molars. Materials and Methods: Thirty primary molars with a necrotic pulp of children in the age group 4-7 years were selected and divided into 3 groups randomly based on the irrigating solution used. In group A, 2.5% NaOCl was used as a positive control group. In groups B and C, 3.8% SDF and 25% water-soluble extract of Propolis were used respectively. The bacterial samples were collected pre-and post-irrigation using paper points and transferred for microbial assay. Results: Antimicrobial effectiveness of 3.8% SDF and 25% water-soluble extract of Propolis as root canal irrigants in primary molars were confirmed. The reduction in the mean bacterial colony counts of all the isolated bacteria was noticed higher in group C than in groups A and B. Conclusions: Propolis showed the best bactericidal effect with a significant decrease in the bacterial growth count after irrigation.