Temporary Root Canal Obturation with a Calcium Hydroxide-Based Dressing: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Area of Science:

• Endodontics
• Microbiology
• Dental Materials

Background:

• Bacterial inactivation is crucial for successful endodontic treatment outcomes.
• Calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂) is commonly used as an intracanal medicament.
• Understanding its efficacy as a temporary dressing after chemomechanical root canal treatment (CMRCT) is important.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂) paste as a temporary intracanal medicament for one week post-CMRCT.
• To assess the impact of Ca(OH)₂ on total bacterial load (TBL) in root canals.

Main Methods:

• Microbiological samples were collected from 26 patients after endodontic emergency treatment.
• Procedures included provisional filling removal, CMRCT, and sequential irrigations with sodium hypochlorite.
• A Ca(OH)₂ paste was inserted as a temporary dressing for one week, followed by a second sodium hypochlorite irrigation.

Main Results:

• CMRCT significantly reduced the total bacterial load (TBL) in root canals (p < 0.05).
• Additional sodium hypochlorite irrigation further reduced TBL (p < 0.05).
• Ca(OH)₂ medication did not prevent bacterial load rebound to post-CMRCT levels but did not increase it further (p < 0.05).
• The increase in TBL with Ca(OH)₂ was significant compared to disinfection-only groups (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• While Ca(OH)₂ as a one-week dressing, combined with additional disinfection, leads to expected bacterial load increases, it does not surpass levels achieved after CMRCT alone.
• Further research may be needed to optimize intracanal medicament strategies in endodontics.