IN VITRO EVALUATION OF NOVEL INTRACANAL FORMULATIONS AGAINST ENTEROCOCCUS FAECALIS

Background:Enterococcus faecalis is a resilient microorganism commonly associated with endodontic treatment
failure. Its resistance to conventional intracanal medicaments necessitates the exploration of more effective alternatives.
Aims and Objectives:To evaluate and compare the antimicrobial efficacy of various novel and conventional intracanal
medicaments against E. faecalis using an in vitro model.
Materials and Methods: Fifty decoronated, instrumented, and sterilized single-rooted human teeth were inoculated
with E. faecalis (ATCC 29212) and incubated for 21 days. The samples were then randomly assigned to five groups
(n=10) based on the medicament used: RC Cal, Doxycycline, Chlorhexidine (2%), Nanochitosan, and Double Antibiotic.
Paste (DAP). After 7 days of medicament application, dentinal shavings were collected and cultured to determine
bacterial viability. Statistical analysis was conducted using ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test.
Results: DAP exhibited the highest antimicrobial efficacy with the lowest mean CFU count, followed by Nanochitosan,
CHX, Doxycycline, and RC Cal. ANOVA revealed statistically significant differences among groups (F = 404.65, p <
0.0001). Post hoc analysis confirmed that DAP significantly outperformed other groups (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: DAP and Nanochitosan are effective intracanal medicaments against E. faecalis, outperforming traditional agents like RC Cal and Doxycycline. Their use may improve clinical outcomes in endodontic therapy, especially in resistant infections.