Antibacterial effect of chamomile extract irrigant activated with diode laser against Enterococcus faecalis

The aim of the study was to evaluate the antibacterial effect of chamomile extract irrigant activated with a diode laser 980 nm against Enterococcus faecalis. Sixty extracted human single-rooted teeth were chosen. Their roots were mechanically prepared using ProTaper rotary system till size F4 taper 0.06, and their crowns were resected at the cementoenamel junction (CEJ). After sterilization, they were infected for three weeks with Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212) obtained from the microbiology laboratory. Based on the kind of final treatment used, they were split into six groups at random. Groups A, B, C, D, E, and F are saline, 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), NaOCl activated by diode laser 980 nm, chamomile extract, chamomile activated by diode laser 980 nm, and NaOCl then chamomile activated by diode laser 980 nm, respectively. Both before and after treatment, the antibacterial efficacy was assessed. The percentage of Enterococcus faecalis reduction was 0.2% in group (A), 96.4% in group (B), 98.9% in group (C), 75.3% in group (D), 99.00% in group (E), and 99.2% in group (F). The activation of chamomile irrigant with a diode laser 980 nm is an effective method for significant bacterial reduction of Enterococcus faecalis from the root canals.