Evaluation of Antimicrobial and Antifungal Efficacy of Inter Appointment Intracanal Medicaments against Enterococcus and Candida albicans: An In Vitro Study

BACKGROUND: Microorganisms and their by-products in pulpal and periapical diseases are to be considered as the primary etiological agents of the pulpal necrosis and apical periodontitis. Enterococcus faecalis, which is the most common organism isolated from failed root canals, is a Gram-positive facultative anaerobe. Yeasts can be detected in 7-18% of infected root canals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Designed to evaluate the antimicrobial and antifungal efficacy of chlorhexidine gutta-percha (CHX-GP), and calcium hydroxide GP points against E. faecalis and Candida albicans. The test materials used are divided into 3 groups; Group A - Control, Regular GP, Group B – CHX-GP, Group C - Calcium hydroxide GP. Detail Method is explained in the article. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the inhibition of E. faecalis, in different materials at each time interval period (P < 0.05). Similarly, the inhibition of C. albicans in the different materials at each time period was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). Calcium hydroxide GP did not exhibit any antimicrobial effect on any of tested microorganisms for all the time periods. CONCLUSION: CHX-GP had the maximum effect on the test microorganisms, with the maximum efficacy on E. faecalis followed by C. albicans. Regular GP also had a significant efficacy on test microorganisms, with the maximum efficacy on E. faecalis followed by C. albicans. Calcium hydroxide GP did not have any effect on any test microorganisms during the entire test periods.