Antibacterial efficacy of calcium hydroxide and chlorhexidine gluconate irrigants at 37 degrees C and 46 degrees C.

This study investigated the ability of two endodontic irrigants to eliminate Enterococcus faecalis from dentinal tubules, and whether their antimicrobial action was enhanced by heat. The lumens of disks prepared from extracted bovine roots were infected with E. faecalis and incubated for 72 h.