To compare the antimicrobial activities of Activ Point (Roeko, Langenau, Germany), Calcium Hydroxide Plus Point (Roeko, Langenau, Germany), calcium hydroxide, 1% chlorhexidine gel and bioactive glass (S53P4) against Enterococcus faecalis and Streptococcus mutans.
Methods:
120 extracted single rooted human teeth were used. After removing the crowns, root canals were prepared by using Protaper rotary system. Following autoclave sterilization, root canals were incubated at 37°C with Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 and Streptococcus mutans RSHM 676 for one week. 10 roots were used for each medicament group. One root was included as positive control and one root as sterility control in each experimental run. Sterile paper points were utilized to take samples from root canals after the incubation of samples in thioglycollate medium at 37°C for one week. Inactivating agents were used prior to sampling. Samples were inoculated onto sheep blood agar and after an overnight incubation, the colonies grown on sheep blood agar were counted and interpreted as colony forming units. Results were tested statistically by using Kruskal Wallis and Conover’s nonparametric multiple comparison tests and were considered as statistically significant with a p value less than 0.05.
Results:
CHX gel (0.3×102 CFU mL-1), Activ Point (1.8×102 CFU mL-1) and Ca(OH)2 (2.3×103CFU mL-1) were significantly more effective against E.faecalis than both Ca(OH)2 Plus Point (8.4×103 CFU mL-1) and bioactive glass (7.2×103 CFU mL-1). On the other hand compared to Ca(OH)2, CHX gel (p<0.001), Activ Point (p<0.001) and bioactive glass (p=0.014) produced significantly lower colony counts of S.mutans. When compared to positive control, Ca(OH)2 Plus Point allowed microbial growth of E.faecalis and S.mutans respectively (p=0.085,p=0.066).
Conclusions:
Among the other medicaments tested, Activ Point and 1% chlorhexidine gel were found to be the ones effective against both E.faecalis and S.mutans while Ca(OH)2 Plus Point didn’t show adequate antimicrobial activity to eliminate those microorganisms.