1Additional Professor, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, A. B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte, Mangaluru, Karnataka
2Post Graduate student, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, A. B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte, Mangaluru, Karnataka
3HOD and Vice Principal, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, A. B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte, Mangaluru, Karnataka
4Lecturer, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, A. B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte, Mangaluru, Karnataka
5Reader, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, A. B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte, Mangaluru, Karnataka
6Professor, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, A. B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte, Mangaluru, Karnataka
*Corresponding Author: Dr. Payal Garg, Post Graduate student, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, A. B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte, Mangaluru, Karnataka, Address: Room no: 123, KSHEMA Ladies Hostel, Deralakatte, Mangaluru-575018, Karnataka, India, Phone: 8197356782, Email: me.payalgarg@gmail.com
Online published on 20 March, 2019.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the extent of microbial leakage of cotton, cellulose sponge and polytetrafluoroethylene tape (PTFE) tape used as spacers in an in vitro microbiologic model when impregnated with calcium hydroxide and iodoform based medicaments.
The study consisted of three groups of spacers: Group I: Cotton, Group II: Cellulose sponge and Group III: PTFE tape. The groups were further subdivided into 3 groups where spacers were used alone, impregnated with calcium hydroxide medicament and impregnated with iodoform based medicament. Forty five intact mandibular human premolars were used to check the access cavity bacterial contamination. The teeth were disinfected, pulpal remnants removed, and access cavities were swabbed with sterile cotton. Spacers were placed and the teeth were inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus bacteria in nutrient broth till cementoenamel junction. The access cavities were checked for contamination after 7 days by swabbing with sterile cotton and streaking the agar plates with the same. Bacterial colony formation was observed in all groups.
82% of samples in the cotton spacer group showed colonies > 105 CFU/ml, while those impregnated with medicament showed colonies < 102 CFU/ml.
According to the present study, the effectiveness of the three materials when used with medicament is best in case of cotton followed by cellulose sponge.
While in test groups where no medicament was used, PTFE tape was the most effective and cotton showed least potential against preventing bacterial uptake.
Microbes cause periapical inflammation entering coronally during endodontic treatment. Hence an efficient provisional restoration and an interim spacer material is of paramount importance.
Cotton, PTFE, spacer, endodontics, microbial leakage, provisional restoration, medicaments
