title: Octenidine in root canal and dentine disinfection ex vivo.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of octenidine on Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 in a dentine block model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-six root segments of extracted human teeth were infected with E. faecalis for 4 weeks. Octenidine-phenoxyethanol gel (1 : 1) was applied for different timing: 1 min, 10 min, 7 days and in a different formula (1 : 3) for 10 min. Three samples were chosen for the group with placebo gel and for the group without infection (negative control). Dentine samples were collected, and the total count of bacteria and colony-forming units were determined. In addition, for controls and the 10 min group with 1 : 1 gel, the proportion of viable bacteria (PVB) was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Octenidine was particularly effective after incubation periods of 10 min and 7 days. The mean PVB decreased significantly from 57.2% to 5.7% after 10 min application. After 7 days, only one of 10 samples showed positive culture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study showed the effectiveness of octenidine against E. faecalis in dentine disinfection. Further laboratory and clinical studies are required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Endodontology and Cariology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tandjung
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Waltimo
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hauser
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Heide
authors.forename: E-M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Decker
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weiger
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003804:Dentin / Q000382:microbiology*; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007097:Imines; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D007097:Imines; D011725:Pyridines; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; C034213:octenidine