Enterococcus Faecalis

Enterococcus faecalis is a gram-positive facultative anaerobic bacterium, and it frequently is isolated from endodontic cases requiring retreatment. It can infect dentinal tubules up to 800 micrometers from the root canal wall. E. faecalis was found in many studies to be resistant to most of the used intracanal medications. Sodium hypochlorite and chlorhexidine have proved to be effective against E. faecalis in vitro, but they require direct contact.(106,107)
The effect of intracanal medications on the Physical properties of root dentin couldn’t be neglected. Acids are commonly added to some antibiotics to maintain chemical stability, control tonicity or to ensure physiological compatibility. However, long-term exposure of dental hard tissues