Chair side disinfection of Gutta percha points - an in vitro comparative study between a herbal alternative propolis extract with 3% sodium hypochlorite, 2% chlorhexidine and 10% povidone iodine

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of 30% propolis extract, 3% Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX), 10% povidone iodine and 0.9% saline solution to disinfect Guttapercha (GP) cones contaminated by Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis). Fifty four size 80 GP cones were used. The cones were contaminated by E faecalis . GP cones were immersed in the disinfecting solutions for periods of 1 and 10 min. After the disinfection procedure, the cones were incubated in brain heart infusion and the presence of bacterial growth was analysed by turbidity of the medium. Result showed that that the propolis and the saline solution did not produce any bactericidal action, resulting in intense turbidity in all samples and in both time periods. In all samples for both time periods 3% NaOCl and 2% CHX demonstrated absence of the turbidity in the test tubes; indicating no bacterial growth. In Group4, all cones contaminated by E. faecalis showed bacterial growth after 1 min in povidone iodine and in 20% of the cones after the immersion for 10 min. According to the results, it can be concluded that the immersion of GP cones in a solution of 2% CHX and 3% NaOCl for 1 min is an efficient method to promote their disinfection.Propolis was not effective against clinical strain of E. faecalis when used as a GP disinfectant.