Antimicrobial effectiveness of electro-chemically activated water as an endodontic irrigation solution

• Published in: International endodontic journal 2001-04, Vol.34 (3), p.237-243
• Main Authors: Marais, J. T., Williams, W. P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans - drug effects; Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans - growth & development; antimicrobial; Bacteria, Anaerobic - drug effects; Bacteria, Anaerobic - growth & development; Colony Count, Microbial; colony-forming units; Dental Pulp Cavity - microbiology; Dentistry; Disinfectants - pharmacology; electro-chemically activated water; Enterococcus faecalis - drug effects; Enterococcus faecalis - growth & development; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; irrigation solution; Matched-Pair Analysis; Porphyromonas gingivalis - drug effects; Porphyromonas gingivalis - growth & development; Prevotella intermedia - drug effects; Prevotella intermedia - growth & development; Root Canal Irrigants - pharmacology; root canals; Sodium Hypochlorite - pharmacology; Water - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0143-2885; 1365-2591
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2591.2001.00258.x

Aim The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effectiveness of electro‐chemically activated water (ECA) as an endodontic irrigation solution. Methodology The root canals of 60 caries‐free, single‐rooted, adult, maxillary, anterior human teeth were instrumented and irrigated in a similar method to that used for in vivo root canal treatment. The external root surface of each tooth was sealed, maintaining the access cavities patent and the root canals were inoculated with a suspension containing four bacteria. The teeth were randomly divided into four groups (n = 15). Each group was irrigated ultrasonically with one of the following solutions: distilled water (control), NaOCl (3.5%), and ECA, the latter at pHs 7.0 and 9.0. Antimicrobial effectiveness was established directly after irrigation and again 7 days later, by counting colony‐forming units on blood agar plates and by spectrophotometric analysis. Results Large numbers of bacteria were present in the canals of teeth irrigated with distilled water. No bacteria were observed following irrigation with NaOCl. Neither of the ECA solutions were found to be effective against all the bacteria. Although some reduction in the number of bacteria was evident in the ECA groups, this was not statistically significant (P > 0.05) when compared to sodium hypochlorite. Conclusion Within the confines of this study ECA did not demonstrate antimicrobial effectiveness.