Antimicrobial Efficacy of Silver Nanoparticles with and Without Different Antimicrobial Agents against Enterococcus Faecalis: Ex Vivo Study

Aim: the aim of the present ExVivo study was to check the antimicrobial efficacy of silver nanoparticles with and without different antimicrobials against E. faecalis. Material and Methods: 126 recently extracted single rooted human teeth were contaminated with E. faecalis. The teeth were randomly divided into 5 experimental (n=21) and 1 control group (n=21). Each subgroup was then exposed to different antimicrobials namely Calcium hydroxide (group 1), 2% Chlorhexidine (CHX) (group 2), Silver nanoparticles (SNP) (group 3), SNP with Ca(OH)2 (group4), SNP with 2% CHX (group 5) and saline as control group (group 6). Cultures were made from each group after 24 hours, 7 day and 14 day and colony forming units were counted. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the study parameters among the groups at 24 hours, 7 days and 14 days. Results: Significant difference was found in the antimicrobial efficacy of different intracanal medicaments against E. Faecalis after 24 hours, 7 days and 14 days. 2% CHX was found to be most effective medicament at 24 hours, 7 days and 14 days against E. faecalis. Combination of SNP with 2% CHX and Ca(OH)2 and SNP alone ranked second in their antimicrobial efficacy against E. faecalis at 24 hours, 7 days and 14 days respectively. Conclusion: 2% CHX was more effective as intracanal medicament against E. faecalis biofilm in both short and long term duration i.e. at 24 hours, 7 days and 14 days.