Aim. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial effect of sodium hypochlorite gel and four types of intracanal medicaments. Materials and Methods. The agar diffusion method was used to evaluate the antibacterial effect of five medicaments (sodium hypochlorite gel (NaOCl), chlorhexidine gel (CHX), calcium hydroxide paste (CH), Ledermix, and Diapex plus) against Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), and Escherichia coli (E. coli). The zone of inhibition around each medicament was measured in millimeters, after 48 hours of incubation at 37°C. The antibacterial effects of medicaments against each microbial strain and the sensitivity of microorganisms towards each medicament were compared using the one-way ANOVA and Games–Howell post hoc tests. The level of significance was set to p < 0.05 . Results. All medicaments showed variable inhibition zones for all bacterial strains except Diapex Plus which showed no antibacterial activity. NaOCl gel exhibited the most significant inhibition zones for all bacterial strains followed by CHX gel, Ledermix, and CH. However, the effect of CHX and CH paste against S. aureus was statistically similar, while the effect of CH against E. faecalis was significantly higher than the Ledermix. Conclusion. Sodium hypochlorite gel displayed the highest antibacterial activity among tested medicaments and can be recommended as a potent intracanal medicament. Chlorhexidine gel showed a significantly higher antibacterial effect when compared with Ledermix and calcium hydroxide. Calcium hydroxide demonstrated stronger antibacterial activity against E. faecalis than Ledermix. Diapex Plus exhibited no antibacterial effect.

Aims. The purpose of this study was to compare the antifungal activity of sodium hypochlorite gel to those of four intracanal medicaments at various time intervals. Materials and Methods. The agar well diffusion technique was utilized to test the antifungal activity of the following medicaments against Candida albinans (C. albicans): sodium hypochlorite gel, chlorhexidine gel, calcium hydroxide paste, Ledermix, and Diapex Plus. The inhibition zone related to each medicine was measured in millimeter after 24, 48, and 72 hours of incubation at 37°C. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Games–Howell tests, at a significance level of P < 0.05 . Results. Except for Ledermix and Diapex Plus, which had no antifungal action, all of the medicaments showed varied inhibitory zones for C. albicans. At all periods, the NaOCl gel had the most significant inhibition zones, followed by the CHX gel and calcium hydroxide. At all time intervals, the NaOCl gel demonstrated comparable antifungal efficacy. When compared to a 24-hour time interval, the CHX gel showed an increased antifungal activity at the 48-hour and 72-hour intervals. Calcium hydroxide, on the other hand, showed a decrease in its antifungal activity at the 72-hour interval. Conclusion. The antifungal activity of sodium hypochlorite gel was the highest among the investigated medicaments. Chlorhexidine gel's antifungal activity improved over time, whereas calcium hydroxide's antifungal activity declined. Diapex Plus and Ledermix did not have any antifungal properties.