Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 29, 2026
Systematic Approach to Identify Novel Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Molecules from Plants' Extracts and Fractions to Prevent Dental Caries
Published on: March 31, 2021
A Prospective, Blinded Randomized, Active-controlled Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Success of Double Antibiotic
Urvashi Sharma1, Namrata C Gill1, Sidhi Passi1
1Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Dr Harvansh Singh Judge Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Chandigarh, India.
Background:
An irreversibly infected carious primary tooth is often treated by pulpectomy or lesion sterilization and tissue repair (LSTR), with the latter employing a triple mix of antibiotics (metronidazole, ciprofloxacin, and minocycline). Recently, double antibiotic paste (DAP-metronidazole and ciprofloxacin) has been shown to be safer with good antimicrobial efficacy and better biocompatibility with stem cells at concentrations of 1 mg/mL drug mix.
Aim:
To assess the clinical and radiographic success of 1 mg/mL DAP and compare it with calcium hydroxide-iodoform pulpectomy in carious infected primary molars.
Methods:
Thirty-three infected primary teeth in 7-10-year-old children were randomly selected and divided into two groups-DAP and pulpectomy. After treatment, teeth were restored with stainless steel crowns. The clinical and radiographic success were evaluated every 3 and 6 months respectively, till 1 year.
Results:
The clinical success was 67% (10/15) in the DAP group and 83% (15/18) in the pulpectomy group at 12 months and was statistically nonsignificant (p-value 0.4184). One case each in both groups could not be assessed radiographically because of clinical failure at 3 months. The radiographic success was 36% (5/14) in the DAP group and 53% (9/17) in the pulpectomy group at 12 months and was statistically nonsignificant (p-value 0.3374).
Conclusion:
The study showed a favorable clinical outcome but a low radiographic success of 1 mg/mL DAP in pulpally infected carious primary molars.
Clinical Significance:
In poor prognostic teeth, DAP may be considered a clinically viable option over the conventionally used high-concentration antibiotic pastes for up to 1 year.
How To Cite This Article:
Sharma U, Gill NC, Passi S, et al. A Prospective, Blinded Randomized, Active-controlled Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Success of Double Antibiotic Paste in Pulpally Infected Primary Molars. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2025;18(6):653-659.
