A Comparative Evaluation Of The Antimicrobial Activity Of Calcium Hydroxide Paste, Combination Of Calcium Hydroxide With 2% Chlorhexidine And Synbiotic Paste As An Intracanal Medicament Against Enterococcus Faecalis: An In Vitro Microbiological Study Evaluation Of Antimicrobial Efficacy Of Calcium Hydroxide, Calcium Hydroxide And 2% Chlorhexidine And Synbiotic Paste Against E. Faecalis.

Abstract

Background:

Amongst all available intracanal medicaments, calcium hydroxide has been considered as a ideal agent for elimination of root canal pathogens. Due to the immense resilience portrayed by E. faecalis due to its ability to penetrate deep into dentin and survive extreme conditions, it is only prudent to consider the use of newer strategies as against conventional strategies to better aid in eradication of the E. faecalis bacteria from root canals and hence a synbiotic product may be considered as a novel alternative for the eradication of E.faecalis.

Methodology

96 single rooted premolars were inoculated with E.faecalis (ATCC 29212) invitro and were the subjected to testing by inoculation into Mueller hinton agar to confirm bacterial growth and for colony counting. This was then followed by random division of samples into three groups. Group I-Calcium hydroxide, Group II-Calcium hydroxide and 2%Chlorhexidine and Group III-Synbiotic paste. The medicaments were then placed into the canals of the inoculated samples and placed in an incubator for 7 days. Then the samples were reinoculated into Mueller Hinton agar and colonies were counted and collected in a data collection table. 

Results

Mean Colony forming units was 114.06 x 10³±9.31 premedication and 82.37x10³±7.29 post medication for calcium hydroxide. This difference in colony forming units was statistically highly significant. For Calcium hydroxide + Chlorhexidine mean colony forming units was reduced to 70.34x10³±6.35 post medication from 113.46x10³±11.25 premedication respectively. For synbiotic the colony forming units was 118.21x10³±8.30 premedication and 86.15x10³±5.78 post medication. This difference was statistically high significant

Conclusion

This study revealed that calcium hydroxide, its combination with chlorhexidine and synbiotic paste are all effective as intracanal medicaments against E.faecalis. The use of synbiotic paste as an intracanal medicament, may be advocated as an effective intracanal medicament but further studies need to be conducted in order to better understand it efficacy