title: An in vitro study of antibacterial effect of calcium hydroxide and chlorhexidine on Enterococcus faecalis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate and compare the antibacterial effects of chlorhexidine and calcium hydroxide on Enterococcus faecalis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Root canal treatment involves a number of steps. In spite of all the steps done thoroughly, root canal treatment might fail due to the remnant microbes. Of all such bacteria, E. faecalis is found in failed root canals. The study tests the antibacterial activity of various intracanal medicaments. Agar diffusion test was used to evaluate the antibacterial effects of the following antibacterial agents: i. hexidine:0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate; ii. periogard:0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate; iii. calcium hydroxide powder plus sterile water; iv. metapaste plus sterile water; v. calcium hydroxide plus hexidine; vi. calcium hydroxide plus periogard; vii. metapaste plus hexidine; viii. metapaste plus periogard. The size of zones of inhibition was measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average size of zones of inhibition after 72 hours were hexidine: 5 mm; periogard: 4.25 mm; calcium hydroxide plus sterile water: 0.5 mm; metapaste plus sterile water: 0.5 mm; calcium hydroxide plus hexidine: 4.7 mm; calcium hydroxide plus periogard: 4 mm; metapaste plus hexidine: 4.65 mm; metapaste plus periogard: 4 mm. Results were subjected to statistical analysis using one way analysis of variance and Tukey tests.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chlorhexidine and its preparations are more potent antibacterial agents against E. faecalis in comparison to calcium hydroxide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Dr. H S Judge Institute of Dental Sciences, Chandigarh, India. drswaty2007@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: Swaty
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jhamb
authors.forename: Vineeta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nikhil
authors.forename: Vijay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D008422:Materials Testing; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D004338:Drug Combinations; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; C010882:chlorhexidine gluconate; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide; D002710:Chlorhexidine