title: In vitro assessment of the antimicrobial action and the mechanical ability of chlorhexidine gel as an endodontic irrigant.
abstract: The objective of this study was to assess the chlorhexidine gluconate gel as an endodontic irrigant. First the ability of chlorhexidine gel to disinfect root canals contaminated in vitro with Enterococcus faecalis was investigated. A scanning electron microscope was also used to evaluate its cleansing ability compared with endodontic irrigants commonly used, such as sodium hypochlorite and chlorhexidine gluconate liquid. The results indicated that the chlorhexidine gel produced a cleaner root canal surface and had an antimicrobial ability comparable with that obtained with the other solutions tested. It was concluded that chlorhexidine gluconate in gel form has potential for use as an endodontic irrigant.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry of Piracicaba, University of Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Ferraz
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Zaia
authors.forename: F B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Souza-Filho
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003902:Detergents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012996:Solutions; D013223:Statistics as Topic
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D003902:Detergents; D004202:Disinfectants; D005782:Gels; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D012996:Solutions; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite; C010882:chlorhexidine gluconate; D002710:Chlorhexidine