Comparative evaluation of antibacterial efficacy of Allium sativum extract, aqueous ozone, diode laser, and 3% sodium hypochlorite in root canal disinfection: An in vivo study

AIM: The present study aimed to individually evaluate and compare the aerobic and anaerobic antibacterial activity of Allium sativum extract, aqueous ozone, diode laser, and 3% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) as root canal irrigants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight patients were selected and randomly allocated to one of the four groups (n = 12 each) according to the irrigant to be used in each group. For each included tooth, the preirrigation and postirrigation (after irrigation with the test solution) samples were collected through sterile paper points and microbial culturing was done by swabbing on blood agar plates followed by incubation for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Manual colony-forming units counting were done, and statistical analysis was performed. Analysis of variance (one-way) followed by post hoc test was performed as a parametric test to compare the difference between the groups for both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. RESULTS: All the groups showed a statistically significant reduction in bacteria (P < 0.05). However, between the groups, the maximum reduction was seen with 3% NaOCl followed by diode laser, A. sativum extract, and least by aqueous ozone. CONCLUSION: A. sativum extract, aqueous zone, diode laser, and 3% NaOCl showed significant antibacterial activity against aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.