It is used in dentistry to decontaminate dental canals and as an ingredient in dental cement. It is too toxic to be used on a large scale, but the concentrations used in dentistry are low enough to cause no side effects.
The discovery of eugenol, however, made it possible to develop anesthetics such as propofol, a popular drug that causes rapid and brief unconsciousness.
Eugenol is also used as a flavoring agent in the perfume and food industries.
