Comparative Evaluation of Antimicrobial Efficacy of Chlorhexidine, MTAD and Chitosan as Root Canal Irrigant against Enterococcus faecalis

Abstract

Introduction: Endodontic irrigants play a role in disinfection of root canal. Inspite of wider options on selection of irrigant, there is always a search on ideal antibacterial irrigant against recurrent infections. Aim: To comparatively evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of chlorhexidine, Mixture of Tetracycline, Acid and Detergent (MTAD) and Chitosan against Enterococcus faecalis when used as a root canal irrigant. Materials and Methods: The bacterial E. faecalis culture was grown overnight in Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) broth and inoculated in Mueller-Hinton agar plates. The root canal irrigants were divided into four groups as follows. (Group I)-4% Sodium hypochlorite solutions; (Group II)-2% Chlorhexidine (CHX); (Group III)-MTAD; (Group IV)-2% Chitosan. Bacterial inhibition was assessed using agar well diffusion method. All four study irrigants were added to respective wells in agar plate (n=10) and incubated at 37°C for 24 hour. Diameter of bacterial inhibition zone around each well was recorded. The results obtained were statistically evaluated using one-way ANOVA test and the intergroup comparison was done using student’s t-test. Results: All the materials had statistically significant difference in zone of bacterial inhibition when compared to other materials. Based on the mean diameters, 4% sodium hypochlorite had the least zone of inhibition and MTAD had the highest zone of inhibition. 2% Chitosan polymer had greater zone of inhibition than 4% sodium hypochlorite, but less than 2% CHX and MTAD. Conclusion: MTAD showed the highest antibacterial efficacy against Enterococcus faecalis followed by CHX and Chitosan.

Keywords

• antibacterial
• bacterial inhibition
• disinfectant
• endodontic irrigants