Effectiveness of Intracanal Medicaments to Be Used in Dental Trauma

Calcium hydroxide was one of the first substances used as intracanal medicament. In the area of dental trauma, it has been advocated as a temporary dressing, specially in avulsed teeth in an attempt to prevent or inhibit inflamatory resorption. Objectives: evaluate the effectiveness of 2% chlorhexidine gluconate gel(2%CLG), calcium hydroxide(Ca(OH)₂), 2%CLG+ Ca(OH)₂ and its association with iodoform and zinc oxide powder, as intracanal medicament, against some microorganisms. Methods: antimicrobial activity was determined by the agar diffusion method. Stainless-steel tubes were added to the surfaces of the inoculated media and filled with each test substance and controls. Zones of inhibition of microbial growth were measured and recorded after the incubation period and six replicates were made for each microrganism. Results: the data were statistycally analysed (Kruskal-Wallis test) and 2%CLG showed the higher antimicrobial activity.The in vitro antimicrobial effects were ranked from strongest to weakest as follows: 2%CLG; 2%CLG + Ca(OH)₂; 2%CLG+Ca(OH)₂ + iodoform; 2%CLG + Ca(OH)₂+zinc oxide; Ca(OH)₂ + sterile water. The microbial susceptibility were ranked in decreased order as follows: S.mutans, S.sobrinus, P.intermedia, P.gingivalis, S.sanguis, C.albicans, E.faecalis, B.subtilis, E.coli. Conclusions: all tested substances presented antimicrobial activity, however 2%CLG showed the best results followed by its association with Ca(OH)₂. Supported by: FAPESP: 00/13689-7, 02/13980-9 & CNPq:304282/2003-0