Spectrophotometric assessment of tooth discoloration induced by various antibiotic pastes

Title: Spectrophotometric assessment of tooth discoloration induced by various Antibiotic pastes. Aim: To evaluate tooth discoloration induced by various Antibiotic pastes using spectrophotometer. Materials and Methods: Sixty extracted upper front tooth were selected for the study. Access opening was done and root canal of each tooth was instrumented with hand files. The tooth were then randomly divided into 3 groups: Group A (Triple antibiotic paste: Ciprofloxacin+ Metronidazole+Minocycline), Group B (Modified Triple antibiotic paste: Ciprofloxacin+ Metronidazole+ Clindamycin) and Group C (Double antibiotic paste: Ciprofloxacin+ Metronidazole). In all the groups, medicaments were only applied inside the root canals of the teeth and access cavity was sealed with cotton pellet and temporary restoration. Spectrophotometric readings were obtained from buccal surface of the teeth immediately after placing the medicaments (Baseline data) and at 1 week and after 2 months. Based on spectrophotometric readings at different time interval, ∆E was then calculated. Data were analyzed using 2-way (ANOVA) tests. Results: The maximum color change (ΔE) was observed at 2 months with Triple antibiotic paste (p < 0.0001) followed by Modified Triple antibiotic paste. No significant color change was noted with Double antibiotic paste. Conclusion: Antibiotic paste should be used judiciously inside the root canals of teeth to eliminate chronic root canal infection due to risk of tooth discoloration. Double antibiotic paste is a more promising option.