To Evaluate the Success of Natural Compound: Curcumin as Obturating Material in Primary Teeth.

Background: In a quest a search for newer obturating materials, trends have now shifted from more harmful chemical-based compounds to less toxic and more natural Ayurvedic or herbal materials. Curcumin-a natural extract from turmeric rhizomes, possesses anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties and thus may be used as a novel obturating material in the primary teeth.

Objective: To evaluate and compare the efficacy of curcumin powder mixed with zinc oxide-eugenol (ZOE) and ZOE as obturating materials in primary molars.

Materials And Methods: A total of 30 primary molars indicated for pulpectomy were selected from 4-8-year-old children and divided into two groups. Group 1-ZOE group included 11 teeth, and in group II, 19 teeth were obturated with-curcumin mixed with ZOE mixed (ZOE + C). The efficacy of these obturation materials was evaluated both clinically and radiographically after 3, 6, and 9 months.

Results: At 9 months, there was a significant reduction in preoperative clinical signs and symptoms. Mobility was absent in all the teeth in group I, while 5 teeth presented with mobility in group II after 9 months.On radiographic assessment, at the end of the 9 months, material resorption was similar to physiological root resorption in 40% of teeth in group I and 22.2% in group II. Interradicular radiolucency increased in 66.7% of teeth in group II when compared to 20% of teeth in group I. Pathological root resorption was seen in 10% of roots in the ZOE group and 55.6% of the roots in the ZOE+C group.

How To Cite This Article: Dalal R, Gupta A, Srivastava A, To Evaluate the Success of Natural Compound: Curcumin as Obturating Material in Primary Teeth. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2023;16(6):793-799.

Conclusion: Despite the well-documented antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin powder in literature, considering the results of the present study we cannot suggest curcumin powder as successful alternative obturation material for treating deciduous teeth.