Antifungal effects of sodium hypochlorite and chlorhexidine in root canals

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antifungal properties of 0.12 % chlorhexidine, 1% NaOCl, and 5% NaOCl, Root sections were enlarged and th e smear layer was removed in half of the specimens. The specimens were fixe d in the wells of tissue culture plates. Each root canal was dispensed with an inoculum of Candida albicans, After 10 days, the reset sections were tr eated with 3 mi of either disinfectant solution for 1 min, 5 min, 30 min, a nd 1 h, Then, root sections were incubated in test tubes having Sabouraud's Dextrose Broth at 37 degrees C for 24 h, In the presence of the smear laye r, antifungal activity was observed only in l-h treatment groups for all so lutions. However, in the absence of the smear layer, 5% NaOCl alone started to show antifungal activity after 30 min. The antimicrobial effectiveness of irrigating solutions should be re-evaluated, particularly in patients pr edisposed to oral candidiasis.