creosote

Creosote is a complex mixture of phenols and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) derived from the distillation of coal tar or wood tar (such as beechwood). In clinical practice, wood-tar creosote is primarily used as a dental antiseptic and disinfectant, particularly in root canal treatments for primary teeth with periapical periodontitis. It acts through non-specific antimicrobial mechanisms, including protein denaturation. Beyond its medicinal use, coal-tar creosote is a major industrial wood preservative for railroad ties and utility poles, though its use is increasingly regulated due to the presence of carcinogenic PAHs and environmental persistence.

Other names

beechwood creosotewood-tar creosotecoal-tar creosote