ANTIBACTERIAL EFFECTS OF VARIOUS ENDODONTIC IRRIGANTS ON SELECTED ANAEROBIC-BACTERIA

This study was undertaken to determine the antibacterial effects of va rious endodontic irrigants against six selected anaerobic bacteria. Th e organisms were mixed separately with dilutions of each of the irriga nts in tubes containing fluid thioglycollate broth and allowed to rema in in contact for specific time periods before being evaluated for gro wth. Of the six irrigants tested, chlorhexidine appeared to be the mos t effective antibacterial substance. Hydrogen peroxide, sodium hypochl orite and REDTA were less effective while the calcium hydroxide and sa line solutions proved to be totally ineffective.