Anti bacterial Effectiveness of Electro- Chemically Activated (ECA) Water as a Root Canal Irrigant- An In-vitro Comparative Study.

INTRODUCTION: Sodium hypochlorite, is the irrigant of choice for many clinicians, but its strong toxic and damaging effects on vital periapical tissues is always a matter of concern. So, the search for a root canal irrigant with a broad antimicrobial spectrum yet with a limited toxicity on vital tissues is always desirable.

AIM: The study evaluated antimicrobial efficacy of Electro-Chemically Activated (ECA) water as a root canal irrigant against E. faecalis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty eight single rooted human teeth were decoronated to a length of 15mm. All teeth were divided into four test groups (group A - ECA anolyte, group B - 1% sodium hypochlorite, group C - 3% sodium hypochlorite, group D - distilled water) of 12 each. Only 1ml of Ringer's solution and calibrated suspensio of E. faecalis was injected into each canal, aspirated and placed on agar plates and incubated aerobically at 37°C for two days. The suspension was aspirated and spread onto the blood agar plate and incubated. All samples were irrigated with four test solutions and Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) solution was injected into each canal then aspirated and spread onto blood agar and incubated. After inoculations Colony Forming Unit (CFU) and optical density was measured under a microscope and spectrophotometer. The data obtained were statistically analysed by one way ANOVA and Dunkan's multiple range test.

RESULTS: CFU reduction was not statistically significant between the test groups. The optical density showed statistically significant difference between the test groups (p≤0.001).

CONCLUSION: The antimicrobial efficacy of ECA was found to be comparable to sodium hypochlorite solutions.