“A Randomized Controlled Trial to Compare the Antimicrobial Efficacy of Licorice and CHLORHEXIDINE (1%) GEL as cavity disinfectants in deciduous molars”

Background: It is pivotal to eliminate any remaining bacteria present on the cavity walls, in the smear layer, at the enamel–dentin junction, or in the dentinal tubules after removal of the carious dentin. In recent years, there has been an increase in the practice of "phytotherapeutics" or "ethnopharmacology," which is the study of natural treatments as a part of medical and dental therapy as cavity disinfectants.

Aim: This study aims to evaluate and compare the antimicrobial effectiveness of LIQUORICE(MULETHI)AND CHLORHEXIDINE (1%) GEL with normal saline(as control)  in children aged 5 to 9 years old, as cavity disinfectants.

Materials and methods: In this study, a total of 84 subjects (28 per group) within the age group of 5 to 9 years will be included and will be randomly divided into three groups: Group I [Hexigel containing Chlorhexidine gluconate (1%) gel], Group II [Liquorice], and Group III [Normal saline] as a Control group.

The  sample will be collected by excavating carious dentine before disinfection. After disinfecting the cavities with test agents, samples will be again collected and forwarded to the college’s microbiological laboratory for a total viable count of bacteria. The Kruskal Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U test and the Wilcoxon paired t-test will be used to statistically analyze the given data.