Antibacterial Efficacy of Calcium Hydroxide with Iodoform versus Calcium Hydroxide with Camphorated Paramonochlorophenol as Intrachannel Pastes on an Enterococcus faecalis Biofilm: A Comparative In Vitro Study

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess in vitro the antibacterial efficacy of Ca(OH)(2) with iodoform versus Ca(OH)(2) with camphorated paramonochlorophenol as intrachannel pastes on an Enterococcus faecalis biofilm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The diffusion method was used in wells. The strain used was E. faecalis ATCC 29212. Bile esculin agar was inoculated into 60-well plates of 5 mm in diameter. Three groups were formed: Group 1: Calen PMCC (Ca(OH)(2) + camphor paramonochlorophenol); Group 2: Metapex (Ca(OH)(2) + iodoform); and Group 3: camphor paramonochlorophenol inoculated with E. faecalis as a positive control. The plates were then incubated at 37°C for 24 h. Bacterial inhibition halos were read. RESULTS: Group 1 presented the highest antimicrobial efficacy with a mean of 16.2 ± 0.6 mm, whereas Group 2 only had an antimicrobial effect of 9.7 ± 1.3 mm. Finally, Group 3 only exposed to the positive control (camphor paramonochlorophenol) showed an effect of 14.6 ± 1.0 mm. The inferential analysis showed statistically significant differences between the antimicrobial effect of the three groups (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Ca(OH)(2) paste with camphor paramonochlorophenol (Calen PMCC) has a greater antibacterial action on E. faecalis. The iodoform-associated Ca(OH)(2) paste (Metapex) showed significantly lower antibacterial action against E. faecalis (P < 0.05).