Microbiologic evaluation of cotton, polytetrafluoroethylene tape, and foam as an endodontic spacer material in permanent premolars and molars

Abstract

Aims: Microbiologic evaluation of cotton, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tape, and foam as an endodontic spacer material in permanent premolars and molars – an ex vivo study. Subjects and Methods: After ethical approval, 72 patients who signed the informed consent form participated in the study. Following access opening and biomechanical preparation, the teeth were randomly assigned to cotton (n = 24), PTFE tape (n = 24), and foam group (n = 24). Samples obtained from the access cavity at baseline (sample one – S1) and after seven days (sample two – S2) were checked for an increase in the microbial load. They were placed on brain-heart infusion agar plates, incubated aerobically for 48 h, and the colony-forming units were calculated. Statistical Analysis: One-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc test were used and a P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in all the three groups concerning baseline and after Seven-day mean values. An intergroup comparison revealed a statistically significant difference in the mean difference values between the cotton and PTFE tape group. Whereas, there was no statistically significant difference in the mean difference values between the cotton and foam and PTFE tape and foam group. Conclusions: Within the limitations of the study, it can be stated that the PTFE tape and foam group performed better than cotton.