Introduction Preservation of primary tooth with non-vital pulp is a major problem in pediatric dentistry. In such cases, the preferred treatment modality is pulpectomy. The objective of pulpectomy is complete removal of necrotic and irreversibly infected pulp of an affected tooth but due to limited ability of mechanical preparation to eliminate entrapped micro organisms in the canal space owing to the tortuous and complex nature of the root canal system. Thus , the use of antimicrobial agents has been recommended as an adjunct to mechanical instrumentation in deciduous teeth.
Aim The aim of the study was to assess the antimicrobial efficacy and clinical success of green tea extract irrigant versus physiological saline following root canal irrigation of infected primary molars.
Materials and Methods In the present study, antimicrobial efficacy and clinical success of green tea extract irrigant and physiological saline as control were assessed and compared with each other. The antimicrobial efficacy was evaluated against aerobic and anaerobic. The statistical analysis was done with IBM, SPSS*. Statistics version 23 for Windows. Data were explored for normality using Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk tests. Log10 (CFU/ml) showed parametric distribution, so Dependent t-test was used to compare between before and after application. Independent t-test was used to compare between different groups.
Results: Percentage of change in bacterial count of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria revealed significant difference in preference to green tea extract group . Clinical success was higher in green tea extract group.
Conclusion: Green tea extract irrigant has antimicrobial effect against aerobic and anaerobic bacteria present in the root canals of necrotic primary molars which is higher than saline. Also, green tea extract irrigation showed higher clinical success rate than saline.