Effectiveness of Chemomechanical Preparation with Alternating Use of Sodium Hypochlorite and EDTA in Eliminating Intracanal Enterococcus faecalis Biofilm
published online 08 March 2010.
Abstract
Introduction
The elimination of microorganisms from root canals is a critical step in endodontic treatment. We aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial effectiveness of an alternating irrigation regimen during chemomechanical preparation (CMP).
Methods
During 21 days, root canals of extracted human teeth were infected with Enterococcus faecalis, and colonization was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Canals were irrigated with saline solution (control group), with 5.25% NaOCl followed by a final rinse with 17% EDTA (conventional irrigation group), or with the alternating use of NaOCl and EDTA (alternating irrigation [AI] group). Samples were taken before treatment (S1), after CMP (S2), and during the following 14 days. Two specimens/group were analyzed by SEM.
Results
The AI group yielded negative agar and liquid cultures from immediately after CMP and from the 5th day on, respectively. SEM confirmed several bacterium-free sites in the AI group.
Conclusion
The irrigation regimen based on the alternating use of NaOCl and EDTA seems to be a promising endodontic tool because it promoted the elimination of root canal E. faecalis biofilms throughout the experimental period.
∗Department of Dentistry, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil
†Department of Microbiology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil
‡Department of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
§Department of Dentistry, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Address requests for reprints to Dr Luiz de Macêdo Farias, Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Supported by grants from Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa (CNPq) and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG). JAS is partly supported by a postdoctoral CNPq-Brazil scholarship.
ABSTRACT