ABSTRACT
Objective : The aim of this study is to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of 3% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) with sonic agitation devices. Materials and Methods: Fifty extracted human single-rooted teeth were collected. Canals were prepared up to Profile #35/0.06. Forty teeth were inoculated with Enterococcus faecalis and incubated for 24 hours. The teeth were then divided into five groups based on the agitation device used. Group 1- was agitated with EndoActivator . Group 2 was agitated with Waterpik Power Flosser. In Group 3, Waterpik flosser was used with a nickel-titanium file. Group 4 (positive control) was not subjected to any agitation, and Group 5 -was the negative control. Superficial and deep dentinal shavings were collected from coronal and apical halves and sowed in brain heart infusion (BHI) agar to evaluate colony-forming units (CFU/mL). Results: Krusal Wallis, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Mann-Whitney U test showed that Group 3 showed a smaller number of CFUs/mL Group 2 showed a relatively greater number of CFU/mL. The deep apical dentin areas showed more number of CFUs relative to other sites. Conclusion: The nickel-titanium file attached to the Waterpik Power Flosser system was found to be as effective as the EndoActivator in antibacterial efficacy against E.faecalis.