Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate antimicrobial effect of several irrigation solutions on 7 anaerobes and 2 aerobes, which are found frequently in infected root canals. The antimicrobial effects of normal saline, 3% $H_2O_2$, 0.5% & 3.5% NaOCl, 10% & 50% citric acid and mixed solutions of 3% $H_2O_2$ plus 3.5% NaOCl were compared. No. 80 paper points dipped in bacterial broth were soaked in each irrigation solutions and moved into thioglycolate broth, subcultured in agar plate for bacterial growth. The results were as follows: 1. Normal saline had no antimicrobial effect. 2. Mixed solutions of 3% $H_2O_2$ plus 3.5% NaOCl, 10% citric acid had relatively weak antimicrobial effect. 3.3% $H_2O_2$, 50% citric acid, 0.5% NaOCl showed relatively strong antimicrobial effect. 4. 3.5% NaOCl had the strongest antimicrobial effect among used 7 irrigation solutions.