title: Antimicrobial action of intracanal medicaments on the external root surface.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess in vitro the antimicrobial action of intracanal medicaments in the external root surface, with or without of cementum.
  
  
  METHODS
  After the placement of intracanal medicaments, the coronal and apical openings were sealed. The antimicrobial action of 2% chlorhexidine gel (2%CHX); calcium hydroxide+2% chlorhexidine gel (CH+2%CHX); calcium hydroxide+2% chlorhexidine gel+zinc oxide (CH+2%CHX+ZnO); calcium hydroxide+saline solution (CH+SS) was evaluated against Enterococcus faecalis, Candida albicans, Actinomyces viscosus and Porphyromonas gingivalis. The samples were placed over the agar, and the zones of inhibition of microbial growth were measured after the incubation period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The antimicrobial effects of the medicaments could be ranked from strongest to weakest as follows: 2%CHX, CH+2%CHX, CH+2%CHX+ZnO, CH+SS. No differences among groups were verified in the presence or absence of cementum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  2%CHX containing medicaments diffused into the dentin and reached the outer surface, exerting antimicrobial action.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, Endodontic Division, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, UNICAMP, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil. bpgomes@fop.unicamp.br
authors.forename: Brenda P F A
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Montagner
authors.forename: Vanessa Bellocchio
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Berber
authors.forename: Alexandre Augusto
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Zaia
authors.forename: Caio Cezar Randi
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Ferraz
authors.forename: José Flávio Affonso
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: de Almeida
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Souza-Filho
mesh_terms: D016924:Actinomyces viscosus / Q000187:drug effects; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003739:Dental Cementum / Q000382:microbiology; D003804:Dentin / Q000382:microbiology; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000187:drug effects; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D016369:Smear Layer; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000382:microbiology*; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide; D002710:Chlorhexidine; D015034:Zinc Oxide