An <i>in vitro</i> study of antibacterial effect of calcium hydroxide and chlorhexidine on <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i>

• Main Authors: Jhamb Swaty, Nikhil Vineeta, Singh Vijay
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2010-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Dental Research
• Subjects: Agar diffusion test; chlorhexidine; metapaste; periogard; trypticase soy agar
• Online Access: http://www.ijdr.in/article.asp?issn=0970-9290;year=2010;volume=21;issue=4;spage=512;epage=514;aulast=Jhamb

<b>Aim:</b> To evaluate and compare the antibacterial effects of chlorhexidine and calcium hydroxide on <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i>. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> 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, <i>E. faecalis</i> 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&#x0025; chlorhexidine gluconate; ii. periogard:0.12&#x0025; 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. <b>Results:</b> 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. <b>Conclusion:</b> Chlorhexidine and its preparations are more potent antibacterial agents against<i>E. faecalis</i> in comparison to calcium hydroxide.