Comparative Effects of Calcium Hydroxide in Combination with Ciprofloxacin or Betamethasone Against Enterococcus Faecalis Biofilm

This study aimed to assess the effect of calcium hydroxide (CH) in combination with betamethasone or ciprofloxacin on Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) biofilm.  

This ex vivo experimental study was conducted on 95 single-rooted human teeth. The root canals were prepared and inoculated with E. faecalis. The samples were incubated for 8 weeks, and biofilm formation was confirmed by observation of 2 samples under a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and culture in 3 samples. The remaining samples were divided into three groups (n=30): CH + betamethasone eye drop, CH + ciprofloxacin eye drop, and CH + saline. Microbial analysis was performed at 1, 7 and 10 days. The colony count was measured. Comparisons were made by two-way ANOVA and a post-hoc test using SPSS.

On day 1, the highest colony count was observed in CH + saline group. The difference in colony count between CH + ciprofloxacin and CH + betamethasone, and the difference between CH + betamethasone and CH + saline were not significant at days 7 and 10. CH + ciprofloxacin showed significantly lower colony count than CH + saline at 1 (P=0.001), 7 (P=0.004) and 10 (P=0.002) days.

The result of this study showed that betamethasone and ciprofloxacin were appropriate carriers for CH and resulted in suitable antibacterial effects against E. faecalis.