Screening and Selection of an Endodontic Antifungal Agent

¹ Loyola University School of Dentistry, Chicago, Illinois

A number of possible antifungal agents were synthesized and tested for anti-yeast activity. Of these, 5-nitro-2-methylfurfuryl ether and 5-nitrofurfuraldoxime were the best performers. Furfuryl ether was selected as the better antifungal agent to use in combination with the antibacterial PATS. In the presence of PATS, the nitrofurfuryl ether appears to be considerably more stable, especially with regard to its use in impregnated endodontic paper points. The therapeutic life span of the impregnated paper points is about 1 year. The therapeutic life span of aqueous solutions of PATS-NMFE is in excess of 2 years. The anti-yeast effect of the nitrofurfuryl ether is satisfactory at very low concentrations compared with that of the more common anti-yeast agents used in endodontics. There does not appear to be any loss of anti-yeast activity by NMFE through interference by PATS. The antimicrobial activity of PATS-NMFE is definitely superior to that of either agent alone. Combination of NMFE with PATS produces an antiseptic far superior to PATS alone.