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Antimicrobial substantivity of root canal irrigants and medicaments: A review
Article first published online: 28 MAY 2009
DOI: 10.1111/j.1747-4477.2009.00164.x
© 2009 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2009 Australian Society of Endodontology
Additional Information
How to Cite
Mohammadi, Z. and Abbott, P. V. (2009), Antimicrobial substantivity of root canal irrigants and medicaments: A review. Australian Endodontic Journal, 35: 131–139. doi: 10.1111/j.1747-4477.2009.00164.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 3 DEC 2009
- Article first published online: 28 MAY 2009
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Keywords:
- endodontics;
- irrigants;
- medicaments;
- substantivity
Abstract
Disinfection of the root canal system is one of the primary aims of root canal treatment. This can be achieved through the use of various antimicrobial agents in the form of irrigants and medicaments. These agents are only used for relatively short periods of time ranging from minutes (for irrigants) up to days or several weeks (for medicaments) and therefore their long-term antimicrobial effects rely on whether or not the particular agent has any properties of substantivity. If irrigants and medicaments had effective long-term residual antimicrobial activity that could prevent re-infection of the root canal system, then the long-term outcomes of endodontic treatment might be improved. Only a small number of studies have investigated the short-term substantivity of commonly used antimicrobial agents and the results show substantivity of chlorhexidine lasts for up to 12 weeks and tetracycline for up to 4 weeks. However, it is not known whether the substantivity of these agents will last for longer periods of time as this has not been investigated.