Antibacterial efficacy, calcium ion release, and pH using calcium hydroxide with three vehicles

CONTEXT: Vehicles combined with calcium hydroxide, as an intracanal medicament, play a key factor in affecting antibacterial, calcium release, and pH. AIMS: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of three vehicles (glycerin, chlorhexidine gluconate/CHX, and chitosan nanoparticle) combined with calcium hydroxide as an intracanal medicament on antibacterial efficacy against Enterococcus faecalis, calcium ion release, and pH of at different interval times of 7 and 14 days. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The research was experimental laboratory. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Each study used 24 samples of eight teeth each and was randomly divided into three groups based on the vehicle of calcium hydroxide: group 1: glycerin, group 2: CHX, and group 3: chitosan nanoparticles. Each vehicle group was then further divided into two subgroups of four teeth based on the interval times (group A: 7 days and group B: 14 days). The antibacterial efficacy was determined using an agar diffusion method. Calcium ion release was analyzed with atomic absorption spectrometry, and pH was measured using a pH meter. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data from each study were analyzed by two-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey's test with a significance level of 95%. RESULTS: The results exhibited that chitosan nanoparticles had the highest antibacterial efficacy against E. faecalis, calcium ion release, and pH, while the lowest was glycerin at 7 and 14 days (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Calcium hydroxide combined with chitosan nanoparticle as an intracanal medicament produced the highest antibacterial efficacy against E. faecalis, calcium ion release, and pH than glycerin and CHX at intervals of 7 and 14 days.