Assessment of microbial reduction following rapid chair-side sterilization of contaminated endodontic files

Abstract

Background. Endodontic treatment is carry out in order to preserve a tooth whose pulp has been damaged where the injury extends to the peri-radicular tissue. The endodontic treatment is cleaning, disinfection of the root canal space and shaping it, followed by the obturation of the root canal system. The presence and re-entry of microbes inside the canal is the main reason for post-treatment infections, which is considered as an endodontic failure. Therefore, disinfection throughout the treatment is very important. The aims of the study were to find microbial growth on brand sealed endodontic files, taken directly from the manufacture's packages, compare between different chemical compounds in rapid sterilization of contaminated endodontic files and determine the most effective chemical method in the sterilization. Methods. The present study was performed to compare between different chemical compounds: 3% sodium hypochlorite, dendroid, chloroX and saline as the positive control in rapid sterilization of endodontic files in root canal treatment in dental practice using sealed endodontic files, taken directly from the manufacture's packages and sterile K-files sterilize by autoclaving. Results. The results of this study, concerning E. coli bacteria, indicated that Dentroid scored the best results (90% free of any E. coli bacteria), followed by CHX (20% free of E. coli bacteria), then 3% NaOCL (10% free of E. coli bacteria). The results, concerning S. aureus, showed that normal saline and 3% NaOCL scored the highest contamination percentages (100%). While least and equal distribution of CHX and dentroid (90% free of S. Aureus). Conclusion. The disinfecting solutions as CHX and Dentroid could be used as a method of rapid chair-side sterilization in clinical practice.