Effectiveness of calcium hydroxide‐based intracanal medicaments against Enterococcus faecalis

Lima RKP, Guerreiro‐Tanomaru JM, Faria‐Júnior NB, Tanomaru‐Filho M. Effectiveness of calcium hydroxide‐based intracanal medicaments against Enterococcus faecalis. International Endodontic Journal , 45 , 311–316, 2012. Abstract Aim  To evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of calcium hydroxide‐based intracanal medicaments against Enterococcus faecalis . Methodology  One hundred and six single‐rooted human teeth were inoculated with E. faecalis ( ATCC 29212 ) and incubated in an microaerophilic environment for 21 days. Teeth were divided according to the medicaments and period: G1 – Calen (7 days); G2 – Calen (14 days); G3 – Calen/camphorated paramonochlorophenol (CMCP) (7 days); G4 – Calen/CMCP (14 days); G5 – Calen/0.4% chlorhexidine (CHX) (7 days); G6 – Calen/0.4% CHX (14 days); G7 – Calen/1% CHX (7 days); G8 – Calen/1% CHX (14 days); G9 – chemo‐mechanical preparation with no medication and G10 – no chemo‐mechanical preparation and no medication. Microbial samples were harvested immediately after removal of the intracanal dressing and 7 days later. Data were subjected to anova ( P  < 0.05). Results  All medicaments were associated with a reduction in E. faecalis after removal of the dressing (post‐medication harvest). However, all specimens were associated with an increase in CFU mL −1 values after 7 days (final harvest). Calen/CMCP and Calen/CHX had the lowest CFU mL −1 values ( P  < 0.05). Conclusion  In this laboratory study using extracted teeth all calcium hydroxide‐based medicaments were able to significantly reduce the CFU mL −1 values of E. faecalis in the root canal system.