title: Antimicrobial effect of 0.2% chlorhexidine in infected root canals.
abstract: The aim of this study was to identify bacteria from the infected root canals of teeth with chronic apical periodontitis, and to evaluate the antibacterial effect of 0.2% chlorhexidine (CHX), as an irrigant, in reducing the microbial flora 48h after root canal preparation. A total of 44 subjects were randomly divided in the experimental group and the control group. The first bacterial samples from all root canals were obtained in the beginning, before any treatment. During mechanical instrumentation, root canals were irrigated three times, with 0.2% CHX in the experimental group, and with saline solution in the control group. All canals were dried and temporarily sealed with zinc oxide-sulfate cement. After 48 h the second samples were obtained. Bacterial samples were subjected to microbiologic processing. The study indicates that 0.2% CHX is significantly effective in reducing the microbial flora, and could be used as an irrigant solution.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of the Republic of Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Branimir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bebek
authors.forename: Ivona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bago
authors.forename: Greta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Skaljac
authors.forename: Vanda
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Plecko
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Miletić
authors.forename: Ivica
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Anić
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D017523:Croatia; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010485:Periapical Periodontitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D002710:Chlorhexidine