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In vitro assessment of the effectiveness of chlorhexidine gel and calcium hydroxide paste with chlorhexidine against Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans.

Ercan E, Dalli M, Dülgergil CT

Department of Operative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Kirikkale, Kirikkale, Turkey. ertugrulercan@hotmail.com

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of various medicaments, including Ca(OH)2/2% chlorhexidine, 2% chlorhexidine gel, and Ca(OH)2 alone, against Enterococcus faecalis and Candid albicans in vitro. STUDY DESIGN: Eighty extracted single-rooted human maxillary teeth were used. After removing the crown, each root was instrumented up to size 50 by using a conventional technique. The root canal was irrigated with ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) solution to remove smear layer. Then, roots were infected with E faecalis and C albicans. Subsequently, the roots were divided into 4 treatment groups: group 1 was treated with calcium powder hydroxide in distilled water, group 2 was treated with calcium hydroxide powder in 2% chlorhexidine, group 3 was treated with 2% chlorhexidine gel, and group 4 was treated with 0.9% sterile saline serving as negative control. Microbial samples were taken after 7, 15, and 30 days. After incubation, dentine chips were obtained form each root canal and examined microbiologically. The microbiological samples were plated to count colony-forming units in per milligram of dentin. RESULTS: The results showed that the 2% chlorhexidine gel was significantly more effective than calcium hydroxide with 2% chlorhexidine, calcium hydroxide, and control saline solution (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Under the conditions of this study, 2% chlorhexidine gel is effective in the elimination of E faecalis and C albicans from the root canal system. However, to support this in vitro observation, further in vivo studies are needed.

Published 31 July 2006 in Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod, 102(2): e27-31.
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