The antimicrobial effect of MTAD, sodium hypochlorite, doxycycline, and citric acid on Enterococcus faecalis

This study compared the antimicrobial effect of MTAD, two of its components, doxycycline and citric acid, and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) in two in vitro models on Enterococcus faecalis. In the bovine tooth model, the lumens of 30 bovine dentin discs were infected with E. faecalis for 2 weeks before treating with either one of the experimental irrigants or saline. Bacteria in the shavings were collected with two sizes of burs and enumerated after overnight culturing. Zones of inhibition were recorded in the agar diffusion model for each irrigant. In the tooth model, NaOCl and doxycycline were more effective than control in killing E. faecalis at the shallow bur depth, but at the deeper bur depth only NaOCl was superior. In the agar diffusion model, NaOCl produced less inhibition than MTAD or doxycycline.