Antibacterial Efficacy of Different Intracanal Irrigants on Root Canal Treatment: An In-Vitro Study

Aims: Out of many properties that an endodontic disinfecting agent should possess, the most important is that of having a wide range of antibacterial efficacy. This study has been performed to see the effect of different agents on the bacterial microflora and to see how efficient they are against them. Our study has used 3 different agents (Chlorohexidine, Sodium Hypochlorite, and Neem extract) and compared their efficacy against bacterial microflora.

Study Design: Experimental study design

Place and Duration: The study was conducted in the Department of Endodontics at Fatima Jinnah Dental College and Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan from February 2020 to March 2020.

Methodology: Infected samples from individuals were collected through paper points and then allowed to be cultured and incubated on blood agar plates at 37 degrees in an incubator for 24 hours. The colonies were then identified through the gram staining procedure and grown on MHA agar to conduct the disk diffusion test for sensitivity. Individual zones of inhibition for irrigants were measured and compared against each other.

Results: A total of 36 infected samples were included in the study out of which 12 samples were irrigated with chlorohexidine, 12 with sodium hypochlorite, and 12 with neem extract. there was a statistically significant difference in mean diameters of the inhibition zone observed between the three groups for the mean inhibition zone (F=12.28, P=0.001).

Conclusion: Chlorohexidine showed greater efficacy against bacterial microflora, compared to both sodium hypochlorite and neem extract.