Comparative evaluation of pH and antibacterial effect of various calcium hydroxide combinations on E. faecalis and its effect on root strength: An in vitro study

AIM: To evaluate and compare the pH and antibacterial property of Ca(OH)(2) combined with iodine potassium iodide (IKI) or chlorhexidine (CHX) on E. faecalis and to assess and compare their effect on fracture resistance of root dentin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CHX (0.5%) The following test materials were used: Group I Calcium hydroxide + saline, Group II Calcium hydroxide + CHX (0.5%) and Group III Calcium hydroxide + IKI (2%). For antibacterial activity, 60 root dentin blocks (20 in each group) were infected by E. faecalis followed by placement of medicaments. At the end of 24 h and 7 days, 10 samples from each group were randomly chosen and assessed for antibacterial activity. For evaluation of root strength, 30 teeth were used and stored in sterile saline after placement of medicament. At the end of 30 days, samples were subjected to fracture resistance testing on the Universal Strength Testing Machine. Hounsfield strength testing machine, UK pH of the various calcium hydroxide combinations was determined with a digital pH meter. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Kruskal Wallis test, Mann Whitney U test, and one-way ANOVA test for intergroup comparison and Wilcoxon's signed rank test and student's paired t test for intragroup comparison. RESULTS: Group III showed significantly greater antibacterial activity against E. faecalis, followed by group II and control group. There was no statistically significant change in the pH and root strength values among all the groups. CONCLUSION: The present study revealed that IKI or CHX in combination with Ca(OH)2 is an effective medicament against E. faecalis.