Effect of intracanal medicament gel materials separate and in combination in the elimination of Enterococcus faecalis biofilm

ObjectiveThis study was to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of prepared medicament gels on induced Enterococcus faecalis biofilm using the fluorescent microscope.MethodsThe rheological determination was done for the prepared medicaments, namely: ECHXT (mixture of EDTA + CHX + Triss buffer), ENaOCl (2.5% NaOCl/18.6% EDTA gel) and ECHX (18.6% EDTA/17% CHX gel). Antimicrobial efficacy of each medicament gels was evaluated by bacterial viability method as examined using the fluorescent microscope. Fifty-five distal roots of extracted lower molars were contaminated with E. faecalis and incubated for 14 days at 37 °C. Scanning Electron Microscope was used to confirm the biofilm formation in five samples. After mechanical preparation, Forty five roots were divided into three equal groups according to the used medicament gel, and incubated for 1, 24 h and 1-week.ResultsIn fluid samples, there was no statistically significant difference between the three medicaments after recommended time interval. While in dentin shavings samples; ENaOCl and ECHX groups showed the statistically significant lowest mean viability after 24 h. The statistically significant highest mean viability percentage was with the fluid samples when compared with the dentin shaving.ConclusionVariation in the physical nature of irrigant improved its ability to penetrate the dentinal tubules, while minimizing the time of application.