Comparison of antimicrobial efficacy of four endodontic irrigants using an in vitro model infected by Enterococcus faecalis / 中华口腔医学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the antimicrobial efficacy of four endodontic irrigants using an in vitro model infected by Enterococcus faecalis (Ef).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The root canals of fifty extracted teeth were infected by Ef in vitro. The test groups were irrigated with 3% H(2)O(2), 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (SH), 2% chloramine-T (CR), and 2% chlorhexidine (CHX), respectively, and the control group was irrigated with 0.9% NaCl. The concentration of Ef in canals of each group was calculated before and after irrigation. The residual bacteria within the dentinal tubules and vitalities of the residual bacteria were also examined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All chemical irrigants were significantly more effective than 0.9% NaCl (P < 0.05); 2.5% SH and 2% CHX were statistically more effective than 3% H(2)O(2) (P < 0.05). Residual bacteria could be found in the dentinal tubules and propagated 72 h after.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>2% CR and 2% CHX had almost the equivalent antimicrobial effect as 2.5% SH, but 3% H(2)O(2) was less effective.</p>