title: Comparison of Antimicrobial Efficacy of Diode Laser, Triphala, and Sodium Hypochlorite in Primary Root Canals: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of diode laser, triphala, and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) againstEnterococc-cus faecaliscontaminated primary root canals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-nine single-rooted human primary teeth were reduced up to cemento-enamel junction and biomechanically prepared. After sterilization, five teeth were selected as negative controls and remaining teeth were inoculated withE. faecalis.The teeth were then randomly divided into four groups. The first group was irradiated with diode laser, the second group was irrigated with sodium hypochlorite, and the third group with triphala solution. The fourth group served as the positive control. The antimicrobial efficacy was tested by collecting transfer fluid saline from the canals and counting the colony forming units (CFUs) of viableE. faecalison agar plates. The Mann-Whitney test was used to analyze the results, using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software version 19.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that mean bacterial CFU were 8.00 ± 7.87 for laser, 58.60 ± 16.63 for triphala, and 69.80 ± 19.57 for NaOCl. Laser group showed significant reduction in the colony count compared to the other groups. Triphala group showed better antibacterial activity than NaOCl, but the difference was not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laser was most effective againstE. faecalisand triphala can be used as an alternative disinfectant to NaOCl in primary root canals.
  Thomas S, Asokan S, John B, Priya G, Kumar S. Comparison of Antimicrobial Efficacy of Diode Laser, Triphala, and Sodium Hypochlorite in Primary Root Canals: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2017;10(1):14-17.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Student, Department of Pedodontics, K.S.R. Institute of Dental Science & Research, Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Seby
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Pedodontia, K.S.R. Institute of Dental Science & Research, Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Sharath
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asokan
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head, Department of Pedodontia, K.S.R. Institute of Dental Science & Research, Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Baby
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: John
authors.affiliation: Reader, Department of Pedodontia, K.S.R. Institute of Dental Science & Research, Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Geetha
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Priya
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Student, Department of Endodontics, K.S.R. Institute of Dental Science & Research, Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
keywords: Laser; Sodium hypochlorite; Triphala.