A comparison of the antimicrobial efficacy of three calcium hydroxide formulations on human dentin infected with Enterococcus faecalis.

This study compared the antibacterial efficacy of three different formulations of calcium hydroxide by using human dentin specimens that were infected with Enterococcus faecalis. After exposure to three forms of calcium hydroxide (calcium hydroxide mixed with distilled water, calcium hydroxide mixed with 0.2% chlorhexidine, and calcium hydroxide mixed with camphorated paramonochlorophenol) for 7 days, dentin powder from the infected specimens was obtained and assessed for bacterial quantity by spectrophotometry. It was found that calcium hydroxide mixed with camphorated paramonochlorophenol killed all of the Enterococcus faecalis inside the dentinal tubules. This result was better than that obtained with calcium hydroxide mixed with distilled water or with 0.2% chlorhexidine (p < 0.05). Calcium hydroxide mixed with distilled water and calcium hydroxide mixed with 0.2% chlorhexidine were ineffective against these bacteria.