# Calcium hydroxide is advocated as an inter appointment intracanal medication because of: A. Its ability to dissolve necrotic tissue B. Its antimicrobial property C. Its ability to stimulate hard tissue formation D. Its powerful bleaching effect The correct answer is B. Its antimicrobial property. Most studies report culture reversals during the interappointment period when active antibacterial dressing is not used in the root-canal system between appointments. The reversals are due to regrowth of residual bacteria or recontamination by bacterial leakage around the access cavity dressing. Classical and well-controlled studies (Sundqvist’s group) evaluated the effect of various root-canal treatment procedures on the microbiota both qualitatively and quantitatively. They tested the effect of mechanical preparation, saline or sodium hypochlorite irrigation (0.5%, 5.0%, 5.0% with EDTA), the addition of ultrasonic activation to the irrigation and calc...