Objectives: To assess the antimicrobial effect of turmeric and thyme as root canal irrigants on Enterococcus Faecalis bacteria lives in primary teeth root canals.
Material and methods: This study was carried out with informed consent, on fifty-four children suffering from non-vital primary molars indicated to pulpectomy and selected from Pediatric Dentistry Outpatients Clinic, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Al-Azhar University. Children teeth (54) were divided into three equal groups: Group A: the teeth (18) in this group were irrigated with Turmeric solution. Group B: Teeth were irrigated with Thyme solution. Group C: Teeth were irrigated with sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) solution (control group). Microbiological culturing and counting of Enterococcus Faecalis were done after collection of pre-treatment and post-treatment samples for each group.
Results: NaClO group had the highest antibacterial efficacy (83.4%) against E. faecalis, followed by Turmeric extract group (56.7%), then Thyme oil group (55.6%).
Conclusion: NaClO still the irrigant of choice since it showed superior antibacterial effect than that of Turmeric and Thyme which need more investigation and additives to increase their efficacy.