Effectiveness of different chemical agents in rapid decontamination of gutta-percha cones

ABSTRACT

The effectiveness of seven disinfectant compounds used in dentistry for a rapid decontamination of 32 gutta-percha cones adhered with Sraphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli strains or Bacillus subtilis spores was compared. Cones were treated with 2(per cent) glutaraldehyde, 1(per cent) sodium hypochlorite, 70(per cent) ethyl alcohol, 1(per cent) and 0.3(per cent) iodine alcohol, 2(per cent) chlorhexidine, 6(per cent) hydrogen peroxide, and 10(per cent) polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine, for 1, 5, 10, and 15 minutes. After treatment, each cone was transferred to thioglycollate broth and incubated at 37ºC for 7 days. The products were bactericidal after 1 to 5 minutes and, with exception of ethyl alcohol and iodine-alcohol, sporicidal after 1 to 15 minutes of exposure. Results suggest that chlorhexidine, sodium hypoclorite, polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine, hydrogen peroxide, and glutaraldehyde were the most effective products in the decontamination of gutta-precha cones.