For rapid decontamination of Gutta-percha cones - A qualitative in vitro study

Sterile sealed Gutta-percha cones are available and are widely accepted as root canal filling material. GP cones may get contaminated even if carefully removed from factory-sealed containers. Hence, the rapid chair side decontamination of GP cones after size selection and just before inserting into the canals is justifiable. As GP cones because of their physical characteristics cannot be sterilized by these means, they require chemical decontamination to maintain the aseptic chain. Evaluation of Test Solutions used were 2.5% sodium hypochlorite, 2% chlorhexidine, 100% Aloe vera juice. Results showed that 2.5% sodium hypochlorite was effective after 1 minute and 5 minutes, 2% chlorhexidine was in effective after 1 minute but 100% effective after 5 minutes, 100% Aloe vera juice was in effective at the end of 5 minutes also. It was concluded that Further studies may be conducted to check the efficacy of Aloe vera extract against vegetative forms of microbes as also to ascertain whether it has any adverse effects on the properties of GP cones.