Antimicrobial effectiveness of electro-chemically activated water as an endodontic irrigation solution.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effectiveness of electro-chemically activated water (ECA) as an endodontic irrigation solution.


METHODS
The root canals of 60 caries-free, single-rooted, adult, maxillary, anterior human teeth were instrumented and irrigated in a similar method to that used for in vivo root canal treatment. The external root surface of each tooth was sealed, maintaining the access cavities patent and the root canals were inoculated with a suspension containing four bacteria. The teeth were randomly divided into four groups (n = 15). Each group was irrigated ultrasonically with one of the following solutions: distilled water (control), NaOCl (3.5%), and ECA, the latter at pHs 7.0 and 9.0. Antimicrobial effectiveness was established directly after irrigation and again 7 days later, by counting colony-forming units on blood agar plates and by spectrophotometric analysis.


RESULTS
Large numbers of bacteria were present in the canals of teeth irrigated with distilled water. No bacteria were observed following irrigation with NaOCl. Neither of the ECA solutions were found to be effective against all the bacteria. Although some reduction in the number of bacteria was evident in the ECA groups, this was not statistically significant (P > 0.05) when compared to sodium hypochlorite.


CONCLUSIONS
Within the confines of this study ECA did not demonstrate antimicrobial effectiveness.
Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
J T
JT
Marais
W P
WP
Williams
D000328:Adult; D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000382:microbiology; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D018713:Prevotella intermedia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000494:pharmacology; D014867:Water / Q000494:pharmacology*
D004202:Disinfectants; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; C106820:oxidative potential water; D014867:Water; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite