Date of Graduation

2000

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

Committee Chair

John G. Thomas

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial effect of calcium hydroxide paste and calcium hydroxide containing gutta percha ìPlusî points. Confocal scanning microscopy created a more sensitive model for assessing endodontic antimicrobial activity. The model consisted of anterior teeth with canals prepared to a #60 K Flex file. Target organisms (A) Enterococcus faecalis or a combination of (A) Enterococcus faecalis and (B) Bacteroides fragilis were inoculated into the prepared site. A Zeiss confocal scanning microscope defined living and dead organisms. Teeth were seeded with paste and with the ìPlusî points. Samples were studied by (CFU/ml) and laser microscopy. ANOVA using quantitative counts showed that there was an impact by the medicaments on all organisms(p< .05). In pure culture, (A) E. faecalis was least susceptible to either medicament, but in a mixture, of (A) and (B), (A) was more responsive to either medicament. There was no distinction statistically.

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