Antimicrobial effectiveness in endodontic therapy using formocresol and two new alcoformol agents. Mechanical preparation during the first visit.

Antimicrobial effectiveness of two alcoformol agents (AF 8.75 and AF 3.5) was studied in a clinical trial by means of bacteriologic examination of the root canals. After the initial culture was taken, the root canal was reamed and a second culture was taken. One of the disinfectants was sealed in the pulp chamber for one week. At the second visit, a third culture was taken. No statistically significant differences were found between the effectiveness of the disinfectants; the cumulative effect of mechanical preparation and disinfection was such that initially positive teeth did not differ significantly from initially negative teeth when treated by this procedure.