Corinth Zared D. Alangui | Anne Louise R. Co | Celine S. Dysangco Jasmine Pearl A. Musni | Sean Dominic M. Nicolas Chiqui Kate S. Orduña | Maria Teresa D. Sebanes
School of Dentistry
Dr. Joy Lane N. Cuntig, Adviser
Abstract
Various techniques are promoted in Dentistry to preserve the permanent teeth. Restoration and Endodontic treatment are of the few methods used. The success of the treatment varies on the quality of the work done, patient compliance and the materials & instruments used in the treatment procedure which contribute to its quality. Irrigation is one procedure that ensures bacterial control contributory to the success of the treatment. Microbes are normal residents in the oral cavity but increase in number renders oral cavity, to include teeth, susceptible. Among many microbes in the oral cavity, Streptococcus mutans is an endodontic pathogen with 40% of incidence. This study aimed to have an alternative endodontic irrigant that may be produced locally and have the same effect or possess greater advantages as that of the commercially used ones. The researchers used Pinus kesiya (Benguet pine) sap, an extract from the abundant trees of the Cordilleras in conducting this study. The researchers compared the antimicrobial susceptibility of the pure pine sap with the two control groups, Chlorhexidine and Sodium hypochlorite in an MHA culture media with endodontic pathogens. After 24 hours, zones of inhibition were measured. This was done for 7 days. The bacterium is susceptible with the two control groups. However, a constant 10.5mm zone of inhibition, was observed in the MHA with Streptococcus mutans. The control groups have a wider diameter of zone of inhibition but comparing length of time, Pinus kesiya has a longer effectivity than the control groups.
Keywords: Pinus kesiya, root canal treatment, root canal irrigating solutions, Streptococcus mutans, zone of inhibition
