In Vitro Assessment of Chlorohexidine and Calcium Hydroxide Paste with Chlorohexidine and Saline Solutions against E- Feacalis

Abstract

Statement of Problem: The use of calcium hydroxide powder in saline as an intracanal drug is common. Recently, the use of chlorhexidine solution for irrigation due to its antibacterial property has increased significantly.Purpose: The Purpose of this study was to compare the antimicrobial activity of calcium hydroxide combined with chlorhexidine gluconate against E-Feacalis and to compare the results with the calcium hydroxide mixed with saline and by chlorhexidine alone.Materials and Methods: In this study, 40 teeth with single canal were used. After removing the crown and preparation of the canal with step-back technique, the root canal was irrigated with EDTA solution to remove smear layer. Then, all the samples were sterilized in autoclave and the roots were infected with E faecalis and incubated. Subsequently, the roots were divided into 3 treatment groups. Group 1 was treated with calcium powder hydroxide in salin, group 2 with calcium hydroxide powder in chlorhexidine, and group 3 with chlorhexidine. All the samples were incubated for a period of one week at 37˚C. Sampling was done by paper point. The microbiological samples were plated to count the colony-forming units and the level of CFU was assessed at the wavelength of 540nm by photometer. The mean number of colonies in all the three groups was assessed by variance analysis, and turbidity and transparency of the samples were assessed via chi-squares (x2) test.Results: The results showed that chlorhexidine gel was significantly more effective than calcium hydroxide with chlorhexidine, calcium hydroxide, and control saline solution ( p = 0.06).Conclusion: The results revealed that chlorhexidine gel has antibacterial effects against E-Feacalis. In fact, the study in the field showed that adding chlorhexidine to calcium hydroxide results in an increase in antibacterial effect of calcium hydroxide and reduces the antimicrobial effect of chlorhexidine.Key words: Chlorhexidine, Calcium hydroxide, Enterococus Feacalis