Antibacterial effect of calcium hydroxide on intraluminal and intratubular enterococcus faecalis

Root canal treatment involves the elimination of intraradicular microorganisms. Calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)(2)] is the most widely used canal dressing material. Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) has been reported to be resistant to Ca(OH)(2) in-vivo. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Ca(OH)(2) on the elimination of intraluminal and intratubular E. faecalis.

Thirty six human single-rooted teeth were contaminated with E. faecalis. Thirty specimens in the experimental group were treated with 10% Ca(OH)(2); six specimens were treated with normal saline as the positive control (n=6). Specimens from experimental group were randomly divided into two subgroups of 15 each. In subgroup A, specimens were incubated and sampled after one day and in subgroup B, they were tested at day seven. Paper points and Gates Glidden burs were used to obtain the intraluminal and intratubular E. faecalis respectively. Samples obtained from these root canal preparations were analyzed for bacterial load by counting the number of colony forming units (CFUs). Mann-Whitney and t-test were used for analysis.

Group B had significant decrease in CFUs compared with group A with both sampling methods (P<0.001). No differences were observed between the antimicrobial properties of Ca(OH)(2) against intraluminal and intratubular E. faecalis. After 1 week, there was a significant reduction in CFU load with Ca(OH)(2) intra canal medication.

Ca(OH)(2) showed the same antimicrobial efficacy on intraluminal and intratubular E. faecalis.