Comparative Evaluation of Antimicrobial Efficacy of Zinc Oxide Eugenol with Zinc Oxide Mixed with Three Herbal Products to be Used as Root Canal Filling Material: An In Vitro Study

INTRODUCTION: Primary teeth with pulpal involvement and those having periapical issues should be retained until their normal exfoliation because their premature loss may lead to adverse aberrations in the future dentition. Root canals harbor different types of microorganisms and root canal infections generally are polymicrobial in nature. One of the most common and preferred root canal filling material which is commonly used for primary teeth is zinc oxide eugenol (ZOE) cement. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate and compare the antimicrobial efficacy of ZOE with zinc oxide powder mixed with Morinda citrifolia extract, Aloe vera extract, and neem extract against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The material used in the study were zinc oxide powder, eugenol liquid, M. citrifolia extract, A. vera extract, neem extract, petroleum jelly (Vaseline). The zinc oxide powder was mixed with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) percentage value of herbal extract. RESULT: Zinc oxide eugenol showed strong inhibitory effect against S. aureus and C. albicans. For P. aeruginosa, zinc oxide+M. citrifolia showed strong inhibitory. Petroleum jelly (Vaseline) was used as control agent which showed no inhibitory effect. CONCLUSION: The test root canal filling materials, i.e., ZOE, zinc oxide powder mixed with M. citrifolia extract, A. vera extract, and neem extract, respectively showed varied antimicrobial activity against the microorganisms tested, i.e., S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and C. albicans. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Wasnik MB, Mittal R, Sajjanar A, et al. Comparative Evaluation of Antimicrobial Efficacy of Zinc Oxide Eugenol with Zinc Oxide Mixed with Three Herbal Products to be Used as Root Canal Filling Material: An In Vitro Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2022;15(S-1):S40–S46.