POTENTIAL ANTIMICROBIAL METHODS FOR PROVISIONALIZING TEETH AFTER ENDODONTIC TREATMENT
By Laura T. Garden, DDS
A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Dentistry at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Virginia Commonwealth University, 2018
Thesis Advisor: Garry Myers, DDS
Department of Endodontics
Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness of a Chlorhexidine soaked cotton pellet on bacterial leakage.
Methods: Fifty-one extracted teeth, including six controls, were instrumented, obturated, and sealed with either a cotton pellet (CP), 2% Chlorhexidine soaked cotton pellet (CHX), or a Permaflo orifice barrier (OB). Each root was suspended between two chambers: the coronal chamber inoculated with brain heart infusion broth and colony-forming units of Enterococcus faecalis, the apical chamber with brain heart infusion broth and phenol red. The latter was checked daily for turbidity, indicating bacterial leakage.
Results: All open and closed control groups had leaked by day 7. The average CP tooth survived for 13.1 days whereas the CHX and OB teeth leaked by an average of 5.8 days.
Conclusion:There is insufficient evidence to support the use of a Chlorhexidine soaked cotton pellet. The results were not as expected and the study design should be re-evaluated
