Effectiveness of Morinda citrifolia juice as an intracanal irrigant in deciduous molars: An in vivo study

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the microbial reduction in deciduous
molars using Morinda citrifolia juice (MCJ) as irrigating solution.
Materials and Methods: This was a randomized comparative study including 60 deciduous molars
chosen among the patients belonging to the age group of 6–9 years based on the inclusion or
exclusion criteria. The selected teeth were divided randomly into two groups based on irrigation
solution used, that was, Group I (1% NaOCl) and Group II (MCJ). The microbial samples were
collected both pre‑ and post‑irrigation and were transferred for microbial assay. Paired t‑test was
used for intragroup analysis of pre‑ and post‑operative mean reduction of bacterial colony forming
unit (CFU)/ml, whereas Independent t‑test was used to assess the intergroup, pre‑ and post‑operative
mean reduction of bacterial CFU/ml.
Results: In the intragroup comparison, both of the groups showed statistically significant (P < 0.001)
reduction in the mean CFU/ml; however, it did not show statistically significant reduction when
intergroup comparison was carried out between the two groups. Both the study materials had
clinically revealed decrease in the microbial count postirrigation.
Conclusion: Both the irrigants, 1% NaOCl and MCJ, were significantly effective in the reduction
of mean CFUs/ml postoperatively. The results of this study have confirmed the antibacterial
effectiveness of MCJ in the root canals of deciduous teeth. Considering the low toxicity and
antibacterial effectiveness of MCJ, it can be advocated as a root canal irrigant in endodontic
treatment of primary teeth.
Key Words: Deciduous, molar, plant extracts, sodium hypochlorite