An evidence-based analysis of the antibacterial effectiveness of intracanal medicaments.

Abstract

The authors reviewed the literature evaluating the antibacterial effectiveness of intracanal medicaments used in the management of apical periodontitis. A PICO (problem, intervention, comparison, outcome) strategy was developed to identify studies dealing with calcium hydroxide, phenolic derivatives, iodine-potassium iodide, chlorhexidine, and formocresol. The final inclusion/exclusion criteria eliminated all papers except five that evaluated calcium hydroxide. The total sample size in the included studies was 164 teeth. Microbiologic sampling was performed before endodontic treatment (S1), after instrumentation and irrigation (S2), and after intracanal medication (S3). At S2, 62% of canals ..