Disinfection Of Gutta-percha Cones Research Articles

Effectiveness of photosensitized curcumin fibers, aloevera, amla juice and panchatulsi in disinfecting guttapercha cones.

Herbal remedies have demonstrated remarkable effects as anti-diabetic, anticancer, antimicrobials, immunological modulatory agent in liver problems, respiratory illnesses, and as beauty agents. The need for more affordable, readily accessible, and alternative medicines has led to a rise in the recognition of herbal drugs. Therefore, it is of interest to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of photosensitized curcumin fibers, Aloevera, Amla Juice and Pancha Tulsi in disinfecting guttapercha (GP) cones. It was observed that all experimental disinfectants were found to have greater antimicrobial action than the positive control in which no disinfectant was used. The order of antimicrobial action among different experimental disinfectants against Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis in disinfection of GP cones was in following order PanchaTulsi>Curcumin fibers >Amla juice > Aloe vera. It was concluded that all herbal disinfectants were found to have antimicrobial effectiveness in disinfection of GP cones with Panchtulsi having maximum disinfectant ability followed by photosensitized curcumin fibres.

Clinical usability of vasundhara's transit for gutta-percha (V transit GP) - A questionnaire-based survey.

The lack of a suitable armamentarium to aid in the disinfection and handling of gutta-percha (GP) cones during obturation has been a common challenge amongst dentists. This study assessed the clinical usability of 'Vasundhara's (V) Transit GP' through a questionnaire-based survey. This questionnaire-based study was conducted in Davanagere, Karnataka, in February 2021 for 4 months. The design was 3D printed using a heat-resistant polypropylene material and named 'Vasundhara's Transit for Gutta Percha (V Transit GP)'. Eighteen postgraduate students participated in the study. Fourteen cases were done by each student, seven without and seven with the use of 'V Transit GP'. The GP cones, before obturation, were transferred to their respective canal slots containing 5.25% sodium hypochlorite for one minute and then transferred to their respective distilled water slots. The cones were dried with sterile gauze and taken for obturation. At the end of the procedure, a questionnaire was handed out, the responses were recorded, and the results were tabulated and analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0 software. The results showed that without the use of 'V Transit GP', 84.2% of the dentists felt that the disinfection and handling of GP cones were difficult, whereas with the use of 'V Transit GP', 94.2% of the participants found it to be extremely easy. 'V Transit GP' proved to be an extremely efficient and user-friendly equipment for easy handling and disinfection of GP cones during obturation.

Effectiveness of disinfecting substances of gutta-percha cones

Aim: To demonstrate the effectiveness of disinfecting substances with 2% and 5% Sodium Hypochlorite and 2% Chlorhexidine Gluconate at each of the pre-established times of 0:15 and 0:30 seconds, and 1, 2, 5, and 10 minutes. Methods: This study selected 96 gutta-percha cones that were contaminated with Enterococcus Faecalis, dried and treated with the aforementioned substances and applied at pre-established times. Subsequently, these were transferred to sterile Brain Heart Infusion broth and placed in a bacteriological incubator at 37°C for 24 hours to evaluate microbial growth, as well as in a nutrient agar medium in Petri dishes. Half of the cone was transferred to individual filter paper packages and exposed to the environment in a dental clinic at Universidade José do Rosário Velano, for 7 days, with subsequent evaluation for microbial growth. The bacterial phenotype test was performed using Gram stain and growth in 6.5% saline solution. The results were submitted to statistical analysis using the Kruskal Wallis H test, with a significance level of 5%. Results: The substances were effective at all times tested and individual storage supported disinfection. In the statistics test, the p-value was greater than 0.05, as there was no variability in the data configurations. Conclusion: The disinfection of gutta-percha cones and individual storage was an effective protocol to be adopted with 2% and 5% Sodium Hypochlorite and 2% Chlorhexidine.

Antimicrobial efficacy of acacia Nilotica (Babul) extract and its effectiveness in disinfecting gutta percha cones - An in vitro study.

Gutta-percha cones used directly from the manufacturer's sealed packs harbour micro-organisms. During clinical use, the chances of contamination of gutta-percha increases. Hence, disinfection of gutta-percha cones before use is essential to prevent canal recontamination. To evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of babul against chemical disinfectants, and its effectiveness in disinfecting gutta-percha cones. The extract of babul was used to assess its antimicrobial activity against E-faecalis, S. aureus and C. albicans using the agar diffusion method. A total of 120 cones acquired from freshly opened manufacturers' pack were cut into three equal parts and divided into group I which was directly placed into a nutrient broth, group II was clinically contaminated with gloves for 30 s and placed into a nutrient broth, and the third part was clinically contaminated with gloves and decontaminated for 5 min using the experimental disinfectants to check for the presence of turbidity. The data were analysed by an Unpaired t-test and Chi-square test at a significance level of P < 0.05 using software SPSS 20. Two percent chlorhexidine showed maximum antibacterial action against E. faecalis and S. aureus followed by babul extract. It was also found more efficacious in decontaminating gutta-percha cones followed by babul and 3% sodium hypochlorite in 5 min. Babul herbal extract is indeed effective in decontaminating gutta-percha cones and is a better alternative to chemical disinfectants.

Comparative evaluation ofantimicrobial activity of herbal oils and their ability in disinfection of gutta percha cones - Aninvitro study

Aim: The purpose of this study is to evaluate antimicrobial activity of different herbal oils and their ability in disinfection of gutta percha cones. Material and methods: Antimicrobial activity of Lemon grass oil, Cinnamonoil, Peppermintoil and sodium hypochlorite (positive control) was evaluated using Agar diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus and E. Faecalis. Sixty gutta percha cones were glove handled during ongoing routine endodontic procedures and then cut into two equal halves. First half of contaminated gutta percha cones were placed in brothand incubated and the other halves were treated with herbal oils and sodium hypochlorite for one minute and then incubated for 24hours to check for turbidity. Results: 1)For both tested micro-organisms, Cinnamon oil showed largest zones of inhibition (mean ± SD), 28.6 ± 1.18 mm, 30.8 ± 1.4 mm against E. faecalis, S. aureus. 2)Cinnamon oil is most effective in decontamination of GP cones in 1 minute, followed by NaOCl, Lemon grass oil and Peppermint oil. Conclusion: Cinnamon oil is a potent antimicrobial agent for rapid disinfection of GP cones in one minute and can be an alternative to sodium hypochlorite.

An in vitro evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy of 5% sodium hypochlorite, 2% chlorhexidine, and herbal extracts of neem and Aloe vera in disinfection of gutta-percha cones

Aim: An in vitro evaluation of the antimicrobial efficacy of 5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 2% chlorhexidine (CHX), and herbal extracts of neem and Aloe vera in disinfection of gutta-percha cones for 3 min. Materials and Methods: Ninety gutta-percha cones were used for the study. They were divided into four groups (Group A, Group B, Group C, and Group D) based on the decontaminant used. Each group had 20 cones which were further divided into two subgroups. The microbial species used were Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus. Ten cones in each subgroup were contaminated with E. faecalis and S. aureus, respectively. From the remaining 10 cones, five were contaminated with E. faecalis and five with S. aureus and were disinfected with normal saline which was used as a control. These concentrated extracts were obtained using Soxhlet extraction procedure and were tested for their antimicrobial efficacy by counting the colony-forming units (CFU). The count was taken on day 0 (immediately after disinfection) and day 7 (after incubation for 7 days) for each organism. Results: The number of CFU on day 0 was not more than five for both E. faecalis and S. aureus for all the disinfectants used. However, on day 7 after incubation, only the neem group showed full growth of colonies for the E. faecalis. Conclusion: Long-term effects of A. vera were found to be superior and comparable to 5% NaOCl and 2% CHX. However, the long-term effect of neem as a disinfectant for gutta-percha needs further investigation.

Evaluation of antimicrobial activity and efficacy of herbal oils and extracts in disinfection of gutta percha cones before obturation.

ObjectivesLiterature has shown that micro-organisms contaminate gutta percha (GP) during storage and manipulation. Till date herbal extracts are not explored as an alternative medicament for pre-operative chairside disinfection of GP cones. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity and efficacy of lemon grass oil (LG), basil oil (BO), and obicure tea extract (OT) in disinfecting GP cones before obturation.Materials and MethodsAgar diffusion method was used to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of LG, BO, OT, and sodium hypochlorite (control) against common contaminants, namely, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. One hundred and twenty GP cones were contaminated and cut into 2. First half was placed in the broth and incubated; whereas the second was treated with herbal extracts for 1 minute and then incubated for 24 hours in the broth. Any inhibition in bacterial growth was noted with presence/absence of turbidity. Two-way analysis of variance and χ2 test were used to assess the effectiveness of herbal extracts to decontaminate GP.ResultsLG showed the highest inhibition zones (29.9 ± 6.9 mm) for all tested organisms, followed by OT extract (16.3 ± 1.8 mm), sodium hypochlorite (16.0 ± 1.6 mm), and BO (14.5 ± 5.3 mm). Statistically significant difference was observed between LG and other herbal extracts (p < 0.05).ConclusionsAll extracts proved to be potential rapid chairside disinfectants of GP cones with LG showing the highest antimicrobial activity.

Comparative Evaluation of Three Herbal Solutions on the Disinfection of Guttapercha Cones: An In vitro Study.

Guttapercha (GP) cones are usually supplied in aseptic, sealed packages from the manufacturers, but once exposed to the dental office environment or even by handling; they can be contaminated by a number of microorganisms. Supplementary decontamination of GP cones is critical. As they cannot be sterilized by moist or dry heat, cold sterilization, using disinfectants should be used. The aim of the study was to evaluate rapid, reliable, convenient and effective method of disinfection of GP cones using readily available herbal solutions such as Aloevera Juice, Amla Juice and Pancha Tulsi. Ninety GP cones were selected for the study. Based on the contaminants used, 80 GP cones were divided into two groups: Group A and Group B with 40 cones in each group and the remaining 10 cones which were uncontaminated served as negative control. The cones from Group A were contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Group B were contaminated with Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis). The contaminated cones from both groups were subdivided into four groups with 10 cones in each group. Group I cones were disinfected with Aloevera Juice, Group II with Amla Juice and Group III with Pancha Tulsi. The fourth group consisted of GP cones without any disinfection which served as positive control. All the cones were then incubated in thioglycollate media for seven days. The thioglycollate media was subcultured and colony forming units were counted. The data were analyzed by one way ANOVA (analysis of variance) and Post-hoc Tukey test using SPSS 17.0 software. Mean colony forming units were compared in all the groups and there was a statistically significant difference present among the groups (p<0.01). Pancha Tulsi was found to be most effective disinfectant followed by Amla Juice. All the herbal solutions were found to be effective in the disinfection of GP points. However, Pancha Tulsi possesses superior antibacterial activity when compared with Aloevera Juice and Amla juice.

Effect of Aloe Vera in Oral Health-A Review

Aloe vera is a plant that belongs to Liliaceae family. The name Aloe derives from the Arabic word “Alloeh” meaning shining bitter substance while “vera” in Latin means true. There are more than 300 species of the aloeplant, but the Aloe barbadensis species exhibits the best medicinal properties. Aloe vera contains various minerals and vitamins and has got various properties such as immunomodulatory, antiviral and anti inflammatory in nature. The Greek scientists regarded Aloe vera as the universal panacea. It has its uses in various systemic conditions like skin disorders, bowel disorders, diabetes and in hyperlipidemic patients. It has also been used in dentistry for its beneficial properties in various conditions like lichen planus, apthous stomatitis, oral submucous fibrosis, pulpotomy of primary teeth, prevention of dry sockets, obturation of primary teeth, disinfection of irrigation units, bleeding and painful gums, disinfection of gutta percha cones, burning mouth syndrome and in radiated head and neck cancer patients.

Gutta-percha disinfection: A knowledge, attitude, and practice study among endodontic postgraduate students in India

Aim: (1) To evaluate knowledge, attitude, and practices about methods of gutta-percha disinfection by endodontic postgraduate students in India. (2) To check the sterility of two commercially available, freshly, and previously opened gutta-percha box which was exposed to the clinical environment. Materials and Methods: Data were collected in a prescribed format from 400 endodontic postgraduate students. The questionnaire was designed to evaluate their knowledge about standard sterilization protocols of gutta-percha points, attitude toward the utility of guidelines/protocols of sterilization in the success of root canal treatment and practice of these sterilization protocols. For microbial assay, 10 cones of freshly opened gutta-percha 6% taper of size 25 from diadent (Diadent Group International, Korea) Group A and Dentsply (Dentsply Maillefer, Switzerland) Group B. Cones from the same companies which was kept in chair side working environment during obturation were selected as Group C and Group D, respectively, for aerobic and anaerobic culturing. Results: Among the respondents 75% did not practice any disinfection protocols. Only 25% followed the disinfection of gutta-percha cones. In anaerobic culture Group B turned out to be positive in all samples, all other groups were negative. Conclusions: The endodontic postgraduate students possess adequate knowledge on disinfecting gutta-percha cones, but regular practice of this is uncommon. Microbial assay showed that even freshly opened gutta-percha cones might be contaminated.

Evaluation of disinfection of gutta-percha cones and their surface changes using different chemical solutions

Context: Disinfection of obturating materials is mandatory for the successful root canal therapy. In literature, various disinfectants have been used to sterilize gutta-percha including sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). Effectiveness of peracetic acid over NaOCl is documented in literature, but no study to date has shown the effect of peracetic acid disinfection on gutta-percha surface. Aim: This study aims to evaluate and compare the efficacy of 3% NaOCl, 1% peracetic acid, 0.5% octenisept in disinfecting gutta-percha cones and to analyze surface alterations of gutta-percha cones after chemical disinfection. Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty gutta-percha cones were immersed in bacterial suspensions of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli for 5 min. Cones were then immersed in 3% NaOCl, 1% peracetic acid, 0.5% octenisept for 1 and 5 min. After disinfection, cones were incubated in Mueller Hinton Broth at 37°C for 7 days. Samples were observed at 24 h interval and those showing turbidity were subcultured. For morphologic evaluation, cones were immersed in disinfecting solutions for 1 and 5 min, dried on a paper pad for 10 min and analyzed under scanning electron microscope. Data was analyzed using Pearson Chi-square test. Results: One percent of peracetic acid was found to be most effective disinfectant. Surface alterations were found in all the groups. Conclusion: The outcome of this study confirmed the efficacy of 1% peracetic acid in the disinfection of gutta-percha cones. Topographic changes caused by peracetic acid should be evaluated further to determine its effect on gutta-percha properties and obturation seal.

Current Perspectives on Use of Aloe vera in Dentistry

Introduction: Aloe vera is known from centuries as a medicinal plant. It’s a wonder plant with a lot of health benefits and hence often been called the 'natural healer' . It is a tropical plant that flourishes in warm and dry climate and looks like a cactus with fleshy thorny leaves. There are around 400 species of Aloe, but it is the Aloe barbadensis Miller (Aloe vera or true aloe ) plant which has been used most (found mainly in Asia, Africa and other tropical areas) because of its medicinal uses like moisturizing, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties. Medicinal Uses: Aloe vera has its uses in various systemic conditions like skin disorders (e.g. psoriasis), arthritis, asthma, digestive and bowel disorders, diabetes and lowering lipid levels in hyper-lipidemic patients. It has also be used as a detoxifying agent, for topical application of first and second degree burns, as a immune enhancer, in Alzheimer’s disease and in various cosmetic, medical and dental products. Dental Uses: This wonder plant has also been used in dentistry for its beneficial properties in various conditions like lichen planus, apthous stomatitis, oral submucous fibrosis, pulpotomy of primary teeth, prevention of dry sockets, obturation of primary teeth, disinfection of irrigation units, bleeding and painful gums, disinfection of gutta percha cones, burning mouth syndrome and in radiated head and neck cancer patients. The Mini-review Article

Versatility of Aloe Vera in Dentistry- A review

The Aloe vera plant has been known and used for centuries for its medicinal and skin care properties. The name Aloe vera derives from the Arabic word “Alloeh” meaning shining bitter substance, while “vera” in Latin means true. The Greek scientists regarded Aloe vera as the universal panacea. Aloe vera has its uses in various systemic conditions like skin disorders (e.g. psoriasis), bowel disorders, diabetes and in hyperlipidemic patients. It has also been used in dentistry for its beneficial properties in various conditions like lichen planus, apthous stomatitis, oral submucous fibrosis, pulpotomy of primary teeth, prevention of dry sockets, obturation of primary teeth, disinfection of irrigation units, bleeding and painful gums, disinfection of gutta percha cones, burning mouth syndrome and in radiated head and neck cancer patients. However, future researches should be aimed to determine its best method of preparation, optimal concentration, time of application and effects on the oral cavity.

Disinfection of gutta-percha cones using three reagents and their residual effects.

Aims and Objectives:The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite, 2% chlorehexidine and MTAD in disinfecting gutta-percha cones and to analyze the surface topography of gutta-percha cones after the rapid chemical disinfection procedure.Materials and Methods:Gutta-percha cones were immersed in suspensions of Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus separately. The cones were then immersed in 5.25% NaOCl, 2% CHX and MTAD for 30 seconds, 1 minute and 5 minutes separately. The disinfected cones were then incubated in thioglycollate media for 7 days. The thioglycolate media was sub-cultured and colony forming units were counted. For topographical examination of gutta-percha cones, the cones were immersed in respective solutions for one minute and allowed to air dry for 30 minutes after rinsing or without rinsing the cones with distilled water. The topography of the cones were then analyzed under SEM. Data was statistically analyzed using one way anova.Results:MTAD was found to be the most effective disinfecting solution. The topographical examination of GP cones found some deposits after the disinfection procedure in every group. These deposits were removed when the GP cones were rinsed with distilled water.Conclusions:MTAD possesses superior bactericidal activity when compared with NaOCl and CHX and a final rinse with distilled water is essential after the disinfection procedure.

Antimicrobial efficacy of MTAD, sodium hypochlorite and chlorhexidine on rapid disinfection of gutta-percha cones

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the disinfection efficacy of various disinfectants on gutta-percha root canal filling materials. Methods: Three-hundred and seventy standard #80 gutta-percha cones were used for the study. The gutta-percha cones were sterilized with ethylene oxide. Ten cones were separated for negative control group. Then the gutta-percha cones were randomly divided into four groups containing 90 points each and contaminated with Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans. Specimens were incubated in 10 ml Brain Heart Infusion Broth at 37°C for 72 h. After incubation, cones were dried with sterile gauze; ten of the cones from each group were seperated for positive control groups and rest of the cones were divided into four subgroups according to the chemical disinfectant used (n = 80 each): 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl); 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX); 10% povidone iodine (PI); and MTAD groups. For each subgroup, the gutta-percha cones were immersed into the disinfectant for 1 and 10 min individually. In plates showing growth, the number of colony forming units were counted. Results: NaOCl, CHX and MTAD were equally effective on tested microorganisms. Conclusion: 5.25% NaOCl, 2% CHX, and MTAD are effective agents for a rapid high disinfection level of gutta-percha cones.

Disinfection of gutta-percha cones with chlorhexidine

This study investigated the effectiveness of detergent and aqueous solutions of 2% chlorhexidine digluconate in decontaminating gutta-percha cones (gpc) contaminated with bacteria, yeast, or bacterial spores. Gutta-percha cones were contaminated with 107-108 colony-forming units per milliliter (cfu/ml) of the following test organisms: Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, or Candida albicans. Spores of Bacillus subtilis were also tested. Contaminated gpc were treated with the chlorhexidine solutions for 1, 5, 10, or 15 min. Each cone was then transferred to a tube containing saline and the micoorganisms were recovered after homogenization for cfu determination. Both detergent and aqueous chlorhexidine solutions were effective in eliminating S. aureus, E. faecalis, and C. albicans cells adhered on the surface of gpc within 1 min of exposure. E. coli was eliminated in 5 min with detergent solution. The Bacillus subtilis spores were eliminated by chlorhexidine solutions within 5 min. The results of this study demonstrated that both aqueous and detergent solutions of 2% chlorhexidine digluconate were effective in decontaminating gpc within 5 minutes of exposure.