Cavity Disinfection with Herbal Disinfectants Licorice (Mulethi) and Munident Tablets in Children Aged 5–9 Years: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: Dental caries is still a foremost oral health issue affecting the population in developing countries. Many anticariogenic synthetic therapeutic agents have been used as cavity disinfectants, but with the rise in bacterial resistance, there is substantial concentration and an emergent trend in herbs and homeopathy. Aim: This study compared the antibacterial efficacy of natural herbal agent licorice, commercially available Ayurvedic agent Munident tablets 500 mg, and normal saline as a cavity disinfectant. Materials and methods: In this present study, two test groups were included, group I (licorice), group II (Munident crushable tablets), and group III (Normal Saline) was included as a control group. The children were randomly divided into 15 for each group with a cariogenic cavity not having any deep dental caries, pulp pathology, or any other intraoral pathology without systemic conditions. Two samples were collected by excavating cariogenic dentine predisinfection. After disinfection, the cavity with test agents, after collecting the samples sent to the microbiological laboratory of college for a total viable count of bacteria. The collected data were statistically analyzed with the Kruskal Wallis Test, Mann-Whitney U test, and suing Wilcoxon paired t-test. Result: This study showed a statistically significant reduction in total viable count compared to pre and postdisinfection with test agents. Munident Crushable tablets were most effective amongst all the groups, whereas licorice has also displayed statistically significant results. Conclusion: Ayurveda and herbal products can be effectively used as cavity disinfectants, helping eradicate the bacteria and diminishing secondary caries with longevity and success of the restoration.

Keywords

• antibacterial
• ayurveda
• herbal
• licorice
• munident