Antibacterial Effectiveness of Calcium Hydroxide Combined with Cresotin against Enterococcus faecalis

The goal of endodontic treatment is to prevent and control of pulp and periradicular infections. Calcium hydroxide has a beneficial biological property as an intracanal medicament and can be combined with cresotin to disinfect bacteria in root canals, especially Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) which is the most frequently isolated strain in the root canals. The aim of this study was to investigate in vitro the antimicrobial activity of calcium hydroxide, cresotin, and combination calcium hydroxide and cresotin (Ca[OH]2+Cresotin, 1:1 and 1:2) against E. faecalis. Antibacterial activity was determined by the agar diffusion method. The test medicaments were placed inside the hole that made in the inoculated agar medium. The zone of growth inhibition was measured and recorded after incubation for each plate, and the result was analysed statistically with ANOVA. The in vitro antimicrobial effects of combination calcium hydroxide and cresotin (Ca[OH]2+Cresotin, 1:2) has more prominent antimicrobial activity than others, and calcium hydroxide is more effective than cresotin alone. The antimicrobial activity of combined calcium hydroxide and cresotin is more effective in killing E. faecalis in comparison to the other treatments.