Evidence for feasibility of aluminum potassium sulfate (alum)‎ solution as a root canal irrigant

Abstract EN

Background : the purpose of this study was to evaluate, in vitro, the antimicrobial activity and cleaning efficiency of the aluminum potassium sulfate (alum) solution.

Materials and methods : the antibacterial action of alum solution (1 mg / mL, at pH 3.6) against bacterial isolates found in infected root canals, including facultative anaerobic microorganisms (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella sp.), and aerobic species (Pseudomonus aerogenosa) ,using agar well diffusion test.

The investigation of the debridement and smear layer removing efficiency, on the cervical, middle and apical thirds of root canals of freshly extracted human single-rooted teeth were done by a scanning electron microscopy study.

Results : alum solution were able to demonstrate antibacterial activity against all the bacteria tested, and produced inhibitions zones of 27, 25, 24 and 22 mm against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonus aerogenosa ,Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella sp.

respectively.

Alum solution was effective in removing the debris and smear layer.

Removal of the smear layer and other debris was more effective in the coronal and middle third than in the apical third.

Conclusion : the findings of this study suggested that alum solution has potential for use as an endodontic irrigant, during chemo mechanical root canal preparation.