Asmat Jameel1 , Yawar Ali Abidi2 , Tasleem Hosein3 , Saqib Rashid3
How to CITE:
J PakDentAssoc. 2011 (4) : 226-229
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study were to evaluate the antibacterial effects of Calcium hydroxide and Chlorhexidene as intra canalmedicaments in a sample of Pakistani population.
METHODOLOGY
Eighty, single rooted teeth of patients with necrotic pulps and periradicular lesion who presented atDepartmentOfOperativeDentistry, Fatima Jinnah Dental College Hospital, AzamBastiwere recruited in the study.At first appointment the root canals were cleaned, shaped and dried. Initial samples for bacteriological examination were taken. Medicaments to be tested were placed in the root canals and access cavities were sealed with temporary filling material. After seven days, samples were taken again from the root canal and inspected for growth of microorganism to determine the efficacy of the medicament used. Data was compared using ‘Pearson’s Chi-square test’ on S.PS.S version 10 for windows.
RESULTS
Twenty three (57.5%) out of 40 case swith Chlorhexidene dressing yielded negative cultures.Whereas Calcium Hydroxide group showed negative cultures in 18 (45%) out of 40. There were no statistically significant differences between the two medicament groups. (p-value is 0.263).
Conclusions: Chlorhexidene has better antibacterial effects than calcium hydroxide clinically.However, there were no statistically significant differences among the medicaments tested.
KEYWORDS:
Antibacterial effects,Calciumhydroxide,Chlorhexidene, Intra canalmedicaments
Introduction
Microbial activities inside the dental plaque induce dental caries. If left untreated, it will progress to the pulp the dental pulp and surrounding periapical tissues and results in infection in respective sites. Apical periodontitis is a sequel of microbial infection of the pulp which results in inflammation of the periapical tissues. Bacteria are the most commonly foundmicroorganisms in these infections but other species such as fungi, archea, and viruses have also been implicated. Among the bacteria Gram-positive and Gram-negative species are present with predominance of obligate anaerobes. The prognosis of root canal treatment depends on the reduction or elimination of bacteria present in an endodontic infection. This can be achieved by cleaning and shaping of the root canal system with mechanical instruments and irrigants. In addition, intracanal medicaments can also be used for the same purpose. Because of the complexity of root canal system some of the bacteria take refuge in ramifications, isthmuses, apical deltas and dentinal tubules even after chemomechanical preparation that needs to be eliminated by using intracanalmedicaments. The remaining anaerobic bacteria in the root canal system often result in failure of root canal treatment. Thus, intracanal medication may be a significant value addition to chemo-mechanical preparation in the debridement of the root canal system and induction of repair in the periapical tissues.
Bacterial endotoxins are implicated in the periapical lesion. Calcium hydroxide is stated to detoxify lipopolysacchrides (which is one of these endotoxins). Calcium hydroxide is commonly used in endodontics for pulpotomy, direct and indirect pulp capping, apexification and apexogenesis, as an intracanal medicament in weeping canals, and for the treatment of internal and external root resorption and perforation. Calcium hydroxide based root canal sealers are also available. According to Bystrom calcium hydroxide is effective in killing bacteria from the root canal system. The properties of Calcium hydroxide closely match the requirements of an ideal intracanal medicament mainly because of its alkaline pH. As it is alkaline in nature it destroys the bacterial cell membrane and protein structures hence it is bactericidal. It also neutralizes the acidic pH in the pulp remnants in the root canal space. Additionally, it also provides an alkaline state which promotes osteogenic activity in the surrounding periapical tissue through the continuous release of hydroxyl ions. However it does not totally prevent re-growth of the endodontic bacteria.
Chlorhexidene gluconate has evolved into an effective oral anti-microbial agent. It is widely used for treatment of oral infections, periodontal infections and in caries prevention. Chlorhexidene consists of cationic molecule which binds to negatively charged bacterial cell walls, resulting in change in cell’s osmotic equilibrium. Furthermore, because of its cationic structure, Chlorhexidene has a unique property named substantivity( residual antimicrobial effect). In endodontics, it is used as an irrigant as well as an intracanal medicament. It has been proved that Chlorhexidene prevents the growth of bacteria commonly found in endodontic infections.
Chlorhexidene is superior to iodine, potassium iodide and calcium hydroxide in its ability to remove Actinomyces israelii frominfected dentinal tubules Enterrococccus faecalis is a commonly detected microorganism in asymptomatic persistent endodontic infections. Chlorhexidene gluconate in combination with sodium hypochlorite is effective against E. feacalis. Antibacterial effects of thesemedicaments have been seen in other population but not in the Pakistani population. The purpose of this study is to see the antibacterial effects of these medicaments in a sample of Pakistani population.
No local study relevant to this topic is known to the authors
Methodology
This experimental study was conducted at FJDC. Eighty, single rooted teeth with necrotic pulps and radiographic evidence of periradicular lesion were included in the study. Patients belonged to either gender and were of age 15 years and above. Teeth that had closed apices inwhich coronal sealwas achievablewere included in the study. Patientswere excluded fromthe study if there was evidence of internal or external resorption, discharging sinus, root fractures, or if they were not restorable.Also, teethwith canals inaccessible to the apex, patients refusing to sign the informed consent, patients having systemic disorders such as diabetes, AIDS, and compromised immune system were excluded from the study.
Patients were selected by non probability consecutive sampling. Informed consentwas taken. Rubber damwas applied for isolation of the tooth to avoid contamination of tooth and sample by oral flora. The root canals were cleaned and shaped at the first appointment using step down technique and irrigation with 5.25% sodium hypochlorite. Final irrigation was done with sterile saline solution. The samples were then taken with sterile paper points until all fluid fromthe root canalswere absorbed. These samples were then transferred to Thioglycolate medium and inoculated at 37 degrees centigrade for seven days. The medium was inspected for growth of microorganisms, daily. After that intra-canal medicaments to be tested i.e Calcium hydroxide (Calcipulpe of Septodent) and Chlorhexidene (Clinica gel of Platinum Pharmaceuticals) were placed in the canals according to the group and a sterile cotton pellet placed in the pulp chamber. The access cavities were sealed with Cavit (temporary fillingmaterial).
After seven days the root canal were irrigated with sterile saline solution. The sample was taken again by using the same procedure mentioned above. The medium was inspected for growth of microorganisms, daily. Results were recorded in proforma which is attached as ‘AnnexA’. Data was statistically analyzed with SPSS version 10 using the PearsonChi-square test.
Results
The antibacterial effect of Calcium hydroxide and Chlorhexidene is shown in Table 1 & 2. Twenty three out of 40 cases (57.5%) having dressing with Chlorhexidene yielded negative cultures. Calcium hydroxide group showed negative cultures in 18 out of 40 cases (45%). There were no statistically significant differences between the twomedicaments tested. (Pvalue is 0.263).
Discussion
The aim of endodontic treatment of teeth with pulp necrosis and periapical lesion is based upon the effective removal of microorganisms from the root canal system. Apart from chemo mechanical preparation, intra canal medication has been observed to be a value addition in root canal disinfection. Our results reinforced this concept, because medicaments tested were effective in attaining negative cultures in cases that had positive cultures in the previous sampling.
Several substances have been recommended for intra canal medication. The results of our study have revealed that a higher percentage (57.3%) of cases with Chlorhexidene as intra canal medicament had negative bacterial growth, whereas in canals dressed with Calcium hydroxide relatively lesser percentage (45%) revealed no growth, in our sample. However, results were not statistically significant. These results are in agreement with most of other studies comparing Chlorhexidene and Calciumhydroxide as intra canalmedicament. The antibacterial effect of Chlorhexidene is probably due to its ability to be adsorbed on anionic substrate and be slowly released from these sites (substantivity), thus providing long standing antibacterial effects. The results of our study are in agreement with Barbosa who found that antimicrobial effects of Chlorhexidene were slightly better when compared with Camphorated Paramonochlorphenol and Calcium hydroxide. Basson claimed that persistence of anaerobic bacteria in the root canal system often leads to treatment failure which might be due to retention of microorganisms especially Actinomyces israelli in the dentinal tubules of root canal walls. That study showed that 2% Chlorhexidene is superior to iodine, potassium iodide and calcium hydroxide in its ability to reduce Actonimyces israelii from infected dentinal tubules. Gomes & Krithikadatta concluded that 2% Chlorhexidene gel alone was more effective against Enterococcus faecalis which is a resistant bacterium, than Calcium hydroxide (P <0.05). The results of our study showed that out of 40 cases 22 (55.0%) dressed with Calcium hydroxide had positive cultures. These findings are in agreement with Peter and Balto who found that Calcium hydroxide limits but does not totally prevent regrowth of endodontic bacteria. This could be due to physicochemical properties of this substance that may limit its effectiveness in disinfecting the entire root canal system. In addition, Calcium hydroxide is not effective against all bacterial species found in root canal infections especially Enterococcus feacalis. Association of other medicaments may enhance the efficacy of the intracanal medication in eliminating residual bacteria in the root canal system.
Conclusion
Intracanal medications such as Chlorhexidene and Calcium hydroxide enhance root canal disinfection provided by chemomechanical preparation.When the two drugs were compared, Chlorhexidene had shown higher percentage (57.5%) of negative culture as compared to the Calcium hydroxide (45%). But the difference was not statistically significant (p-value 0.263).
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