Comparative Evaluation of Antimicrobial Effects of a New Root Canal Irrigant Carvacrol with Sodium Hypochlorite

Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) is an effective root canal irrigant, it is an excellent antimicrobial agent but however its toxic effects and pungent odour makes its use difficult and cumbersome. Carvacrol is an eatable plant extract with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that is effective against various microbes. So the aim of this study was to compare and evaluate Carvacrol's antimicrobial efficacy against E. faecalis bacteria with sodium hypochlorite. Thirty extracted single rooted human teeth to determine antimicrobial effect were used. After mechanical preparation, samples were randomly divided into two experimental groups (A & B) and two control groups. E. faecalis was cultured in experimental and positive control groups. And 5.25% of NaOCl and Carvacrol emulsion were used as irrigants in group A and B respectively. Sodium Hypochlorite and Carvacrol showed a significant reduction (P<0.05) in bacteria count than Saline. Sodium hypochlorite and Carvacrol had no significant (P>0.05) difference in bacterial reduction in comparison to each other.