Clinical research
Antibacterial Efficacy of Chlorhexidine Gluconate Intracanal Medication In Vivo

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Abstract

The antibacterial efficacy of intracanal medication with 2% chlorhexidine liquid (CHX) was assessed in teeth with apical periodontitis. Canals in 22 teeth were instrumented at the first session, medicated with CHX, and reaccessed after 7 to 15 days. Bacteriological samples were aspirated at the first and second sessions, before (1A, 2A) and after (1B, 2B) canal instrumentation. Viable bacterial counts were obtained by culture (CFU) and microscopy using vital dyes. Microscopic counts were higher than CFU counts. Consistently high CFU counts in 1A samples (mean, 2 × 105 μL−1 canal volume) decreased significantly (p < 0.0001) in 1B samples, increased significantly (p < 0.04) in 2A samples, and decreased in 2B samples to the level of 1B samples. Proportions of negative cultures followed the pattern of CFU counts. Intracanal medication with CHX did not reduce the bacterial concentration. Bacterial counts expressed per microliter canal volume added information beyond the counts per tooth as expressed in previous studies.

Section snippets

Study Cohort

Before data collection, the research protocol was approved by the Health Sciences Research Ethics Board. Subjects were recruited from among patients in the Graduate Endodontics Clinic, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Canada, in accordance with specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Included were only premolar or anterior teeth presenting with radiographic evidence of apical periodontitis and with adequate coronal structure to ascertain proper isolation, temporization, and

Percentage of Negative Cultures

The proportions of samples showing no bacterial growth on agar plates (percentage negative culture) are summarized in Table 1. The statistical analysis of differences between samples is presented in Table 2. Not all of the access cavity (AC) samples were negative. The 1A samples all showed bacterial growth (positive culture). There was a significant increase (p < 0.001) in the percentage of negative cultures from the 1A to the 1B samples. The percentage of negative cultures decreased

Discussion

The accuracy of bacterial cultures obtained from root canals has been questioned (30), particularly the possibility of false-positive and -negative results. False-positive results can occur because of contamination during sampling, from salivary leakage, from bacteria retained in cracks and the margins of fillings (3, 30), or from handling of the specimens in the clinic or in the laboratory. False-negative results can occur when bacterial growth is inhibited by antibacterial agents used during

Acknowledgment

This study was supported in part by an Endodontic Research Grant from the American Association of Endodontists Foundation and by the Canadian Academy of Endodontics Endowment Fund.

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