Evaluation of a Triple Antibiotic Paste as an Obturating Material for Primary Teeth - an Experimental Study

Primary teeth are essential for mastication, development of jaws, occlusion, space maintenance as well as eruption guidance of permanent teeth. They are also considered important for phonetics, appearance, as well as psychological well-being.1 Dental caries is one of the most prevalent diseases of childhood that cause destruction of the dental tissues approximately at an incidence of 20-76%.2 It compromises the structural integrity of teeth leading to the ingress of micro-organisms into the endodontic spaces. The microbial species identified from the root canals of such teeth included pure aerobic, anaerobic, and mixed gram-positive as well as gram-negative cocci, bacilli, and fungi.3 The pulps of such jeopardized teeth get damaged irreversibly, and such teeth become unable to withstand normal function for a long duration in the oral cavity. Preservation of such teeth in the dental arch is achieved through endodontic therapy, which is primarily aimed at the elimination of causative agents responsible for endodontic infections. The treatment modalities include mummification pulpotomy, partial pulpotomy, and pulpectomy. For pulpless teeth or teeth with necrotic pulp, pulpectomy is the treatment of choice. The microorganisms and their by-products responsible for the initiation and progression of endodontic diseases are eliminated through the cleaning and shaping of the endodontic spaces.4