title: Propolis and commonly used intracanal irrigants: comparative evaluation of antimicrobial potential.
abstract: The objective of endodontic therapy is not just simple cleaning and filling of root canals, but successful treatment requires the establishment of a sufficient level of disinfection.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate, in vivo, the antimicrobial and inflammatory/irritant potential of Propolis against mixed endodontic aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  An in vivo randomized controlled trial was conducted in a group of 60 children aged 6-12 years presenting with an acute apical abscess of the maxillary primary molars. Fifteen children each were divided randomly into four groups where irrigation during pulpectomy was performed using either 2% chlorhexidine, 4% calcium hydroxide or 4% Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) extract of propolis with normal saline as the control irrigant. Microbiological samples were taken from the disto-buccal root canal before initiating the pulpectomy as well as after 3 days later and for mixed aerobic and anaerobic bacterial cultures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all the four groups, a significant decrease in mean aerobic colony forming units (cfu) count was seen. Maximum change in anaerobic cfu count was seen with 2% chlorhexidine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chlorhexidine proved to be superior antimicrobial agent against both endodontic aerobes and anaerobes. Calcium hydroxide was found to be least effective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, India. dr.mandeepjolly@gmail.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jolly
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rathore
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tandon
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banerjee
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000187:drug effects; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000187:drug effects; D058491:Bacterial Load / Q000187:drug effects; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000382:microbiology*; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008963:Molar / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D010482:Periapical Abscess / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D011429:Propolis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011670:Pulpectomy / Q000379:methods; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012997:Solvents; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D012997:Solvents; D011429:Propolis; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide; D002710:Chlorhexidine; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide