In Vitro Antimicrobial Effectiveness of Calcium Hydroxide and Its Combination with Sodium Hypochlorite against Enterococcus Faecalis and Candida Albicans

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate and compare the antimicrobial effect of calcium hydroxide (〖Ca(OH)〗_2) and its combination with 5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCL) as intracanal medicaments against Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) and Candida albicans after one, three and seven days. Inoculate of these organisms (E. faecalis and candida albicans) were used to make lawn cultures on Mueller-Hinton with 5% defibrinated sheep blood agar and Mueller-Hinton agar. 60 wells with a depth of 4 mm were prepared for E. faecalis. Then 20 wells filled with 〖Ca(OH)〗_2, 20 wells filled with combination of 〖Ca(OH)〗_2 and 5% NaOCL, and last 20 wells were filled with distilled water as control. A similar procedure was conducted for Candida albicans. The zone of inhibition for each material used against a particular organism were measured and recorded after 1, 3, and 7 days. 〖Ca(OH)〗_2 in combination with 5% NaOCL is more effective than 〖Ca(OH)〗_2 alone against E. faecalis and Candida albicans at different time periods. E. faecalis was more resistant than Candida albicans to intracanal medicaments used. The antimicrobial effect depends on how long it remains inside the root canal. Mixing of 〖Ca(OH)〗_2 with 5% NaOCL had antimicrobial effect on both E. faecalis and Candida albicans and it was more effective against Candida albicans.