In Vitro Antifungal Efficacy of Different Intracanal Irrigants against Candida Albicans

An intracanal irrigant is essential for a successful root canal therapy. The aim of this study was to compare the antifungal efficacy of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite, 2% chlorhexidine gluconate and 94% carvacrol against Candida albicans in vitro. In this experimental study, after crown removal and canal preparation of 48 extracted human maxillary central incisors, they were randomly divided into 3 experimental groups of 14 teeth, plus 3 teeth as positive and 3 as negative controls. A suspension of Candida albicans (ATCC=10261) was injected into the experimental and positive control group root canals. The teeth were then incubated for 72 hours. Then, each group was rinsed with one of the irrigants for 1 minute and samples were taken from the canals and inoculated on plates. After 48 hours of incubation, the colony growth was assessed and colony forming units (CFUs) served as a measure of antifungal activity. Data were analyzed using the Kruskal Wallis test. In carvacrol, sodium hypochlorite and chlorhexidine gluconate groups, 6, 10 and 1 specimen did not show bacterial growth and the mean CFU was 86.3, 53.3 and 271.2 in the mentioned groups, respectively. Carvacrol and 5.25% sodium hypochlorite had similar antifungal efficacy against Candida albicans and this effect was significantly greater than that of 2% chlorhexidine gluconate.