Date of Award
Spring 2009
Document Type
Thesis - Restricted
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Dentistry
First Advisor
Bahcall, James K.
Second Advisor
Olsen, F. K.
Third Advisor
Maki, James
Abstract
The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2; Ultradent. West Jordan, UT), 1%. 2%. and 4% chlorhexidine gel (CHX; Ultradent, West Jordan, UT), and combinations of calcium hydroxide and 2%, 4%, and 8% chlorhexidine gel (Ultradent, West Jordan, UT) against Enterococcus faecalis (American Type Culture Collection 4082). Twenty-eight Petri dishes of BHI agar were inoculated with E. faecalis. Each Petri dish had six saturated paper disks placed. Five of the paper disks had a different test medicament, and the last paper disk was saturated with sterile distilled water to serve as a control. Each medicament was tested a total of twenty times. Fourteen Petri dishes were incubated aerobically at 37°C for 48 hours, and fourteen Petri dishes were incubated anaerobically at 37°C for 48 hours. Each medicament was tested ten times aerobically and ten times anaerobically. The largest zone of bacterial inhibition was measured from the edge of the paper disk in millimeters and recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and significance was determined using the Tukey test. Calcium hydroxide only inhibited E. faecalis in direct contact. CHX and CHX/Ca(OH)2 mixed, regardless of the concentration of CHX, inhibited significantly more E. faecalis than Ca(OH)2 alone (p<0.001). CHX, regardless of concentration, inhibited statistically more E. faecalis than the mixture of CHX/Ca(OH)2 (p<0.001).
Recommended Citation
Mears, Kelly N., "An in Vitro Comparison of the Antimicrobial Effects from Mixtures of Chlorhexidine and Calcium Hydroxide As Compared to Chlorhexidine and Calcium Hydroxide Alone" (2009). Master's Theses (1922-2009) Access restricted to Marquette Campus. 5354.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/theses/5354