THE ROLE OF COAGGREGATION INHIBITORS IN ENHANCING THE ANTIBACTERIAL EFFECT OF IRRIGANTS INSIDE THE ROOT CANAL- AN IN VITRO STUDY USING CONFOCAL AND MOLECULAR PROBE ASSAY

*Dr. Hannah Rosaline, MDS, Dr. Deivanayagam Kandswamy, BDS, MDS, FDS, Dr. J. Kalyani, MBBS, DGO, MD, Dr. Velayutham Gopi Krishna, BDS, MDS, PhD and Dr. Chinambedu D. Priya, M.Sc, PhD

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Root canal infections are polymicrobial. Coaggregation between bacteria in the root canal play a potential role in endodontic infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the antibacterial efficacy of 3% sodium hypochlorite and 2% chlorhexidine pretreated with coaggregation inhibitors against dual species biofilm of E.faecalis and F.nucleatum. Methods: Dentine samples from human uniradicular teeth contaminated with dual species bacteria of E.faecalis and fusobacterium. 300 samples were pretreated with 100 mM of coaggregation inhibitors (lactose, N-Acetyl-D-galactosamine, L-Arginine, L-Lysine) and disinfection was done with 3% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and 2% chlorhexidine(chx). 15 samples were used as positive control with dual species biofilm. The remaining biovolume and bacterial quantification was analyzed using confocal microscopy and molecular probe assay – rt-PCR(Taqman probe). Results: A significant decrease in the percentage of biovolume and bacterial number after pretreatment with 100 mMol of L-Arginine followed by N-Acetyl galactosamine before 3% NaOCl disinfection compared to 3% NaOCl without pretreatment and positive control (no treatment). (p≤0.05) Conclusion: Coaggregation inhibitors enhanced the antimicrobial activity of 3% sodium hypochlorite and 2% Chlorhexidine. L-Arginine pretreatment before disinfection with 3% NaOCl showed the least percentage of bacterial volume and number of dual species of E.faecalis and F.nucleatum.

Keywords: Sodium hypochlorite, coaggregation inhibitors, E.faecalis, F.nucleatum, Rt-PCR.