Background/purpose:Commonly used irrigants for root canal treatment are bactericidal and important for pulp remnants removal but these irrigants may adversely affect the ultrastructural morphology and structural arrangement of the radicular dentin. These changes might dramatically affect the sealing of the root canal system. The aim of this study is to assess the biological effect of the alcoholic andaqueous extracts of moringa on the ultra-structural surface morphology of the radicular dentin.

Materials and methods:A total number of 32 extracted maxillary anterior teeth were decoronated, longitudinally sectioned, and polished. Root sections were randomly and equally divided into 4 groups: group 1 immersed in an alcoholic extract of moringa, group 2 in an aqueous extract of moringa, group 3 in sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), and group 4 in distilled water (sham control). All groups were immersed for 10 minutes followed by examination of the dentinal surface using scanning electron microscope. Calculation of percentage of dentinal tubules and intertubular dentin was performed. Statistical analysis was performed, and significance was set at 5%.

Results:Both alcoholic and aqueous extracts of moringa widened the dentinal tubule orifices (more patent) and increased the percentage of the intertubular dentin compared to sodium hypochlorite with a statistically significant difference.

Conclusion: Both alcoholic and aqueous extracts of moringa could be used as a better bioactive irrigant in root canal treatment to enhance bonding to radicular dentin by widening (increasing patency) of the dentinal tubules and decreasing the intertubular dentin surface area compared to sodium hypochlorite.