Bilge Hakan Sen

In vitro antimicrobial activity of calcium hydroxide mixed with different vehicles against Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate antimicrobial activity of calcium hydroxide (CH) in combination with glycerin, chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX), cetrimide, or distilled water against Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans. STUDY DESIGN Standard holes in the cultivated agar plates were filled with one of the CH preparations and control agents. The zones of microbial inhibition were measured after incubation period. RESULTS The CH preparations with glycerin and CHX demonstrated more antifungal activity than CH preparations with cetrimide and distilled water. The CH-glycerin preparations had no effect against E. faecalis, and CH-CHX preparation was the most effective medication. CONCLUSION Antimicrobial activity of CH may change with the type of the vehicle and against different microorganisms. Enterococcus faecalis was more resistant than C. albicans to CH preparations.

The Effect of Surfactant Addition to EDTA on Microhardness of Root Dentin

INTRODUCTION The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different concentrations of cetrimide with or without 5% EDTA solution on the microhardness of human root dentin in vitro. METHODS Twenty-five recently extracted single-rooted human teeth were selected. The roots were split longitudinally into 2 parts. The specimens were randomly divided into the following 5 groups and were treated with 5% EDTA, 5% EDTA + 0.25% cetrimide, 5% EDTA + 0.50% cetrimide, 0.25% cetrimide, and 0.50% cetrimide immediately after the initial baseline microhardness measurements. A standardized volume of 50 mL of each solution was used for 1 minute. The reference microhardness values of untreated specimens were initially measured with a Vickers indenter under a 50-g load and a 10-second dwell time at the midroot level of the root dentin. Post-treatment microhardness values were obtained in the same manner as the initial ones. The decrease in microhardness was calculated as a percentage. Data were analyzed statistically by 1-way analysis of variance (P = .05) and the post hoc Tukey test for multiple comparisons at the same level of significance. RESULTS All solutions significantly decreased the microhardness of root dentin (P < .05). Although there was no significant difference among the solutions (P > .05), the specimens in the EDTA + 0.50% cetrimide solution group showed the highest change in microhardness. The plain EDTA and plain 0.50% cetrimide groups had similar values. CONCLUSIONS The use of surfactants higher than 0.25% in concentration is questionable for clinical conditions.

The effect of treatment of radicular dentin on colonization patterns of C. albicans

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to observe the colonization pattern of C. albicans on treated and untreated radicular dentin. STUDY DESIGN Root sections of 10 human mandibular premolar teeth were longitudinally separated into halves. The 20 halves were separated into 2 groups and each half served as its own control. In Group 1, only gross pulpal remnants were removed with pliers. Root canal walls in the corresponding 102 halves (Group 2) were instrumented with Gates-Glidden burs and treated with sequential use of 15% EDTA solution for 3 minutes and 2.5% NaOCl solution for 3 minutes. Finally, all teeth were washed with distilled water. Each specimen was placed individually in each well of a 24-well cell culture plate. After the assembly was sterilized with ethylene-oxide, the root canal of each specimen was inoculated with 20 microL of C. albicans (1-1.5 x 10(6) cfu/mL) that was kept in place for 24 hours for initial attachment. Then, 2 mL of SDB was added to each well and the assembly was placed in an incubator at 37 degrees C for 10 days. Following the incubation period, the specimens were washed, fixed, dehydrated, and processed for scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS C. albicans was present on the root canal surfaces of all specimens; however, the colonization pattern was different. In the untreated group, the main growth pattern was a dense mass of yeast cells forming biofilm layers while hyphal structures were not common. On the other hand, pseudohyphae invaded all root canal surfaces in Group 2 and yeast cells were occasionally observed. CONCLUSION The treatment procedures of root canal dentin have a strong influence on the colonization pattern of C. albicans. This fact should be considered when planning and evaluating in vitro Candida adhesion and/or penetration studies.

The efficacy of an experimental single solution versus alternate use of multiple irrigants on root dentin microhardness

Objectives: This study was carried-out to evaluate and compare the efficacy of various irrigants when used singly or in combination on the microhardness of root canal dentin. Study Design: A total of 50 root-halves were randomly divided into 5 groups immediately after the initial baseline microhardness measurements and treated with: Group-1; 7.5%Ethylenediaminetetraaceticacid (EDTA) + 2.5%sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), Group-2; 7.5%ethyleneglycol-bis[b-aminoethylether]-N,N,N0,N0-tetraaceticacid (EGTA) + 2.5%NaOCl, Group-3; 7.5%trans1,2diaminocyclohexane NNN’,N’tetraaceticacid (CDTA) + 2.5% NaOCl, Group-4; 7.5%EDTA + 2.5% Ethylenediamine (EDA), and Group-5; 1/1 (v/v) EDTA-EDA mixture + 1/1 (v/v) EDTA-EDA mixture. Fifty mL of each solution was used for 1 minute. The reference and post-treatment microhardness values were measured with a Vickers indenter under 80-gram load, 15-second dwell time. Data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Bonferroni tests (p=0.05). Results: All solutions decreased microhardness of dentin (p< 0.05). There was statistically significant difference between each group, except Group-1 and 4, after 1st solution application. While Group-2 resulted in a greater reduction of dentin hardness, Group-5 caused the least change in microhardness values, after 1st solution application (p< 0.05). No statistical difference was observed between Groups 1-4, after 2nd solution application. However, Group-5 showed a significant difference compared with all other groups, after 2nd solution application (p< 0.05). Conclusions: Under the experimental conditions, all tested solutions reduced the microhardness of the root canal dentin. EGTA was the most efficient chelating agent. EDTA-EDA single mixture has led to least change on the microhardness of root dentin. Key words:Microhardness, CDTA, EDTA, EGTA, Ethylenediamine.