title: Effectiveness of three endodontic irrigants at various tubular depths in human dentin.
abstract: Bacteria from infected root canals can invade dentinal tubules, thus dentin disinfection is an important aspect of endodontic therapy. This study compares three endodontic irrigants for efficiency in killing bacteria established within human dentinal tubules. Root canals in extracted teeth were prepared and sterilized. Broth cultures of Enterococcus faecalis were allowed to grow within the canals to penetrate dentinal tubules. The infected canals were exposed individually to each of the irrigants for 1 min. Irrigants were 0.525% sodium hypochlorite, Tubulicid (0.2% EDTA), and 0.12% chlorhexidine (Peridex). Sterile water was the control. Viable bacteria were analyzed by drilling incrementally into dentin from the cementum toward the canal. Smaller diameter drills were used for each depth. Shavings were cultured at three depths, for each of three root levels: coronal, midroot, and apical. Although considerable variation occurred between roots, sodium hypochlorite seemed to be superior. Tubulicid and Peridex were better than water. More bacteria remained viable at greater distances from the pulp. These observations apparently apply to all levels in the canal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Endodontics, and Dental Hygiene, University of Louisville School of Dentistry, KY 40292, USA.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Buck
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Eleazer
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Staat
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Scheetz
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000382:microbiology; D003804:Dentin / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000494:pharmacology; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000382:microbiology; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D002614:Chelating Agents; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D004492:Edetic Acid; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite; D002710:Chlorhexidine