In Vitro Evaluation of Antimicrobial Efficacy of Iontophoresis against Enterococcus faecalis, Candida albicans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis

This in vitro study examined the antimicrobial efficacy of iontophoresis against Enterococcus faecalis, Candida albicans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis, all of which are often found in the root canals of teeth with refractory apical periodontitis. An experimental periapical lesion model was made from a transparent plastic root canal model. Iontophoresis was performed with Kantop Junior®; with (1) diammine silver fluoride solution (2) ammoniacal silver hydroxide solution and (3) iodine zinc iodide solution as the iontophoretic solutions. Iontophoresis using diammine silver fluoride solution eradicated all four microorganisms whereas iontophoresis using ammonium silver solution and iodine zinc iodide solution could not. The results of this study suggested that iontophoresis with diammine silver fluoride is an effective treatment for E. faecalis, C. albicans, P. aeruginosa and B. subtilis, all of which often found in the root canals of teeth with refractory apical periodontitis.