Effect of sodium hypochlorite and five intracanal medications on Candida albicans in root canals

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of 1% sodium hypochlorite and five intracanals medications on Candida albicans harvested inside root canals. The contaminated canals were irrigated with sterile saline solution and then treated as follows: (i) filled with Calen paste (calcium hydroxid e/glycol polyethylene paste); (ii) filled with camphorated paramonochloro p henol (CPMC); (iii) filled with 2% iodine-iodate solution; (iv) filled with tricresol formalin; (v) filled with Calen and CPMC pastes; (vi) irrigation with 1% sodium hypochlorite and filled with no intracanal medication; and (vii) no intracanal medication was used. Canal access and the apical forame n were then sealed with Cavit and the roots were stored in a humid chamber at 37 +/- 1 degreesC for 14 days. The canals were reinstrumented and irriga ted with sterile saline solution. Sterile paper points were used to transfe r the root canal contents to test tubes containing sterile saline solution. Part of the suspension was harvested in Sabouraud dextrose agar with chlor amphenicol and incubated at 37 +/- 1 degreesC for 48 h, CPMC was effective in 100% of the samples followed in decreasing order of effectiveness by cal cium hydroxide with CPMC (70% effective), 1% sodium hypochlorite (70% effec tive) (p < 0.05), tricresol formalin (60% effective), 2% iodine-iodate solu tion (50% effective), calcium hydroxide paste (30% effective), and saline no intracanal medication.