title: Antimicrobial analysis of chlorhexidine gel and intracanal medicaments against microorganisms inoculated in root canals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this paper was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of 2% chlorhexidine gel (CLX) associated with various intracanal medicaments against Candida albicans and Enterococcus faecalis inoculated in root canals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty six human single-rooted teeth were contaminated with C.albicans and E.faecalis. The canals were instrumented using 2% CLX gel and were divided into three groups according to the intracanal medicaments (ICM) used. Group 1: calcium hydroxide paste [Ca(OH)₂], Group 2: 2% chlorhexidine gel (CLX) and Group 3: 2% CLX gel + Ca(OH)₂. The root canal collections were performed after 21 days of contamination (control collection), after instrumentation (1st collection), after 14 days of intracanal medicament (2nd collection) and 7 days after medicament removal (3rd collection). The microbiological samples were plated in culture media and incubated for 48 hours. The results were submitted to Kruskal-Wallis test (P ≤ 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was verified that the instrumentation with CLX reduced the number of CFU/ml significantly when compared with the confirmation collection (control). However, the use of the ICM was only capable to eliminate completely the microorganisms in the root canals without difference statistics between them.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the use of 2% chlorherixidine gel reduces the number of microorganisms significantly, only the ICM calcium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide associated with chlorhexidine are able to eliminate these microorganisms completely.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, São Paulo State University-UNESP, São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil. marcia@fosjc.unesp.br
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Valera
authors.forename: A C R D
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Salvia
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Maekawa
authors.forename: S E A
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Camargo
authors.forename: C A T
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: C H R
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Camargo
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Koga-Ito
mesh_terms: D058491:Bacterial Load; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D003762:Dental Instruments; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000382:microbiology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; C010882:chlorhexidine gluconate; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide; D002710:Chlorhexidine