title: Antimicrobial effects of four intracanal medicaments on enterococcus faecalis: an in vitro study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of four intracanal medicaments on Enterococcus Faecalis (E. Faecalis).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty extracted single-rooted human teeth were prepared with standard method. After contaminating the canals with E. Faecalis, the samples were divided into one control and four experimental groups (n=10). The teeth in each group were treated with one of the experimental medicaments, including calcium hydroxide (CH), 2% chlorhexidine gel (CHX), triple antibiotic paste (TAP) and nanosilver (NS). In control group, canals were filled with a neutral gel. Microbial samples were obtained from the roots after 7 days and optical density of the cultures was determined after 24 h of incubation. Optical density values were analyzed with one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CHX gel and TAP were significantly more effective against E. Faecalis than CH, which was also significantly more efficient than NS and normal saline. In the paper cone samples, CHX gel was more effective than TAP; however, samples obtained with sizes 2 and 4 Gate Glidden drills, indicated that TAP was much more efficient than CHX. Normal saline and NS had similar effects on E. Faecalis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NS gel was not efficient enough against E. Faecalis; however, TAP and CHX gel showed better antibacterial efficacy than CH and can be used as an alternative intracanal medicaments in root canal therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Dental School, Iranian Center for Endodontic Research, Research Institute for Dental Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mozayeni
authors.affiliation: Private Practice, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haeri
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Dental School, Iranian Center for Endodontic Research, Research Institute for Dental Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Omid
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dianat
authors.affiliation: Dental Student, Students' Research Committee, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Jafari
keywords: Anti-Infective Agents; Antibiotics; Antimicrobial Agent; Calcium Hydroxide; Canal Disinfectants; Chlorhexidine; Enterococcus Faecalis