title: Antibacterial Effect of Calcium Hydroxide With or Without Chlorhexidine as Intracanal Dressing in Primary Teeth With Apical Periodontitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate in vivo the antibacterial effect of calcium hydroxide (CH) dressings, with or without chlorhexidine (CHX), on human primary teeth with apical periodontitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty root canals in 40 children were selected. A first microbiological sample was obtained after coronal opening, and the teeth were randomly assigned to Group 1 (root canals filled with CH paste) and Group 2 (CH paste plus 1.0 percent CHX). After 30 days, the dressing was removed and the canals were allowed to remain empty for 72 hours. Subsequently, the second microbiological sample was collected. After performing microbiological tests, the data were subjected to statistical analysis to compare the two CH dressings regarding reducing the absolute levels of microorganisms and with respect to total microbial elimination. All analyses were performed with a significance level of five percent.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both CH dressings provided a significant reduction in the number of microorganisms (anaerobic, aerobic, black-pigmented bacilli, streptococci and Streptococcus mutans) in a similar way (P>0.05). However, in terms of complete elimination of microbiota, CH paste alone exhibited greater efficacy (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The addition of chlorhexidine did not provide additional antimicrobial benefits compared with pure calcium hydroxide paste as an intracanal dressing in primary teeth with apical periodontitis.
authors.affiliation: Full professor, in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry in the School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto.
authors.forename: Lea A B
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: PhD student, in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry in the School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto;, Email: priscilla.romualdo@usp.br.
authors.forename: Priscilla C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Romualdo
authors.affiliation: Associate professor, in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry in the School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto.
authors.forename: Raquel A B
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Associate professor in the Department of Clinical, Toxicological and Bromatological Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, in São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria C M
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Souza-Gugelmin
authors.affiliation: Private dental practice, in São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Pazelli
authors.affiliation: PhD professor, in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry in the School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto.
authors.forename: Aldevina C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: De Freitas
authors.affiliation: PhD Professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry, Araraquara Dental School, São Paulo State University, Araraquar, in São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gisele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Faria
authors.affiliation: Full professor, in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry in the School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto.
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nelson-Filho
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010485:Periapical Periodontitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012389:Root Canal Obturation / Q000379:methods*; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide; D002710:Chlorhexidine