In vitro evaluation of antimicrobial activity of calcium hydroxide with oily vehicles in dental treatment

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to assess the in vitro antimicrobial activity of calcium hydroxide with oily vehicles against aerobes and facultative anaerobic microorganisms commonly isolated from infected root canals. Experimental Study. This study was conducted in the Department of pharmacology, University of Karachi from April 2009 to March 2011. The microbial strains were evaluated against calcium hydroxide pastes prepared with calcium hydroxide powder mixed with oily vehicles. Antimicrobial activity of the vehicles was also evaluated. For such purpose agar diffusion and broth dilution method were used. The results showed that calcium hydroxide mixed with oily vehicles was inhibitory against all the microbial strain tested. Calcium hydroxide pastes eliminated the Enterococcus faecalis [the most resistant organism in infected root canals] as well as other microorganisms effectively and the oily vehicles have also inherent antibacterial properties. We concluded from our study that although calcium hydroxide when mixed with oily vehicles can eliminate the endodontic bacteria but such oily vehicles may be irritant to the periapical tissue. Therefore further studies should be done on their role as an intracanal medicine in different combinations with calcium hydroxide