Comparison of the effect of calcium hydroxide, curcumin and aloe vera as an intracanal medicament on dentinal microhardness

Abstract

Background: During root canal therapy, it is necessary to remove as many bacteria as possible from the root canal. The use of medicaments is recommended to reduce the microbial population prior to root filling. Calcium hydroxide pastes have been used because of their antibacterial effects and the ability of tissue dissolving, but some herbal compounds such as curcumin and aloe vera may also play an important role in reducing microhardness due to their antibacterial properties. Therefore, the present study was designed to compare the effect of calcium hydroxide, curcumin and aloe vera as an intracanal drug on dentin microhardness.

Methods: In this in-vitro study, 60 permanent single-rooted teeth extracted without prior root canal treatment, lesion and endodontics were selected. After preparing the root canal, the crown was cut from the CEJ area and the roots were mounted inside the acrylic. Then each root was cut from the middle third area into 2 2 mm thick discs with a diamond disk. The disks are then randomly divided into 3 groups of 40. Calcium hydroxide paste was injected on the control group and curcumin (turmeric) with normal saline paste was placed on the first study group and aloe vera gel prepared on the second study group. The amount of dentin microhardness after 14 days was measured by Vickers microhardness measuring device in each sample at 3 points of the disc and the mean was expressed as the final result. Finally, the data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software.

Results: The results of the study showed that the amount of microhardness in the curcumin group was significantly higher than the two groups of aloe vera and calcium hydroxide. Aloe vera group was also significantly higher than calcium hydroxide group. In fact, the amount of microhardness was the highest in curcumin group and the lowest in calcium hydroxide group and this difference was statistically significant (P <0.05).

Conclusion: The present study concludes that calcium hydroxide had a greater and more significant effect on dentin microhardness compared to curcumin and aloe vera.