Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 21, 2026
Effects of Mechanical Methods Used in Peri-implantitis Treatment on Implant Surface Decontamination and Roughness
Published on: March 14, 2025
Disinfecting Effects of Rotary Instrumentation with Either 2.5% Sodium Hypochlorite or 2% Chlorhexidine as the Main
Isabela N Rôças1, José Claudio Provenzano1, Mônica A S Neves1
1Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Estácio de Sá University, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Introduction:
This randomized clinical study compared the antibacterial effects of irrigation with either 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) or 2% chlorhexidine (CHX) during the preparation of infected root canals with rotary nickel-titanium instruments.
Methods:
The root canals of 50 single-rooted teeth with apical periodontitis were prepared by using BioRaCe rotary instruments (FKG Dentaire, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland) and irrigation with either 2.5% NaOCl (n = 25) or 2% CHX (n = 25). Samples were taken from the canal at baseline (S1) and after (S2) chemomechanical preparation. DNA was extracted from the clinical samples, and the reduction of the levels of total bacteria and streptococci was evaluated by means of a 16S ribosomal RNA gene-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay.
Results:
All S1 samples were positive for the presence of bacteria. After chemomechanical preparation using either 2.5% NaOCl or 2% CHX, 44% and 40% of the root canals still had detectable bacteria, respectively. As for total bacterial counts, a mean number of 3.7 × 10(5) bacterial cell equivalents was present in S1 samples from the NaOCl group, with a substantial reduction in S2 to a mean of 5.49 × 10(2) cell equivalents (P < .001). In the CHX group, a mean bacterial load of 8.77 × 10(4) cell equivalents occurred in S1, with a significant reduction in S2 to a mean of 2.81 × 10(3) cells (P < .001). The differences in both the presence/absence and quantitative data were not statistically significant (P > .05). Both irrigation protocols were highly effective in reducing the levels of Streptococcus species (P < .001).
Conclusions:
No significant difference was observed for the clinical antibacterial effectiveness of rotary preparation using either 2.5% NaOCl or 2% CHX as the main irrigant.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:23Hand hygiene
Hand washing...
01:30Cleaning, Sterilization, and Disinfection
Cleaning
The cleaning process usually involves using water with detergents or enzymatic cleaner and removing foreign material from objects and surfaces, including organic material such as body fluids or inorganic material like soil. Cleaning is performed before high-level disinfection and sterilization because foreign materials on the cover of the devices interfere with process...
01:27Chemical Agents for Microbial Control
01:30Methods of Sterilization II: Chemical Methods
Using chemical sterilization rather than heat to clean out equipment is recommended. It eradicates and removes all bacteria,...
01:25Suctioning the Oropharyngeal Airway
After assembling the equipment, the nurse should practice hand hygiene and don appropriate PPE according to infection control guidelines to avoid the...
01:29Methods of Sterilization I: Physical Methods
Steam sterilization uses non-toxic, low-cost moist heat in the form of saturated steam under pressure, which is fast, microbicidal, and sporicidal, and quickly warms and penetrates fabrics. Autoclaves, or steam sterilizers, expose each item to direct steam contact for a predetermined time at the necessary...