Chlorhexidine as a root canal medicament for treating inflammatory lesions in the periodontal space

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of intra-canal application of chlorhexidine on inflammatory root resorption. Dental pulps from monkey incisors were infected and resealed prior to extraction of the teeth. Root dentin was mechanically exposed and the teeth were replanted under aseptic conditions. After 4 weeks, the experimental teeth were dressed with chlorhexidine gel and resealed. Animals were sacrificed 4 weeks later, and their jaws prepared for histologic examination. Results showed that both marginal and apical periodontal inflammation and resorption were reduced in the chlorhexidine-treated teeth. It was concluded that the use of intra-canal chlorhexidine may be a useful adjunct in the treatment of inflammatory root resorption, but further human trials need to be undertaken before its clinical use can be recommended.