title: In vitro antimicrobial activity of various medication preparations on E. faecalis in root canal dentin.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of several medication preparations in root canal dentin infected with Enterococcus faecalis. Roots of extracted bovine incisors were prepared to standardized cylindrical test specimens, 5 mm in height. The smear layer was removed and the samples were autoclaved and then incubated at 37 degrees C/5% CO2 for 24 h in brain-heart infusion (BHI) broth containing 7.0 x 10(4) colony forming units per ml of E. faecalis. The samples were washed in phosphate buffered saline and mounted to individual culture wells with sticky wax. Test medications were applied to fill the canal lumina; medication groups were: (a) sterile H2O (positive control); (b) a 10% mixture of 1.0 g Ca(OH)2 USP in 10 ml sterile H2O; (c) 10% Ca(OH)2 in 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate (Peridex); (d) Peridex; and (e) uninoculated BHI (negative control). The samples were incubated at 37 degrees C/5% CO2 for 24 h. Dentin samples for quantitative microbiology were then obtained with consecutive sterile burs (ISO 029, 035, 042). All three experimental groups demonstrated significantly greater antimicrobial activity than the positive control (p < 0.001). Group 2 demonstrated significantly greater antimicrobial activity than Group 3 or Group 4 at all dentin depths (p < 0.05). These results suggest that 10% Ca(OH)2 may be more effective than Peridex or 10% Ca(OH)2 in Peridex for the elimination of E. faecalis from dentin tubules.
authors.affiliation: US Army Dental Corps, Fort Gordon, GA 30905, USA.
authors.forename: Richard E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Lynne
authors.forename: Frederick R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Liewehr
authors.forename: Lesley A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Patton
authors.forename: Thomas B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Buxton
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: McPherson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D002417:Cattle; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000382:microbiology*; D003804:Dentin / Q000382:microbiology*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016369:Smear Layer; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D004338:Drug Combinations; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D014867:Water; C010882:chlorhexidine gluconate; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide; D002710:Chlorhexidine