Combination treatment could treat bacterial infections in patients with cancer, periodontitis
A novel treatment approach may be effective at reducing root canal infections in patients with cancer and apical periodontitis.
In a study published in the Journal of Endodontics, researchers used rotary instrumentation, 2.5% sodium hypochlorite irrigation and one week of calcium hydroxide medication to treat the root canals of 46 patients with periapical periodontitis. The patients either had cancer and were undergoing antineoplastic or didn’t have cancer.
The researchers then analyzed the patients’ bacteriological root canal samples prior to and following application of the chemomechanical preparation as well as following intracanal medication.
Although they discovered that bacteria were present in all samples taken prior to chemomechanical preparation, there were significant reductions in bacteria following application of the chemomechanical preparation.
The findings suggested that the use of rotary instrumentation, sodium hypochlorite irrigation and calcium hydroxide may help minimize bacterial populations in the root canals of patients with both cancer and periapical periodontitis.
Read more: Journal of Endodontics
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