In Vitro Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity of Sealers and Pastes Used in Endodontics

Abstract

The antimicrobial activity of four root canal sealers (AH Plus, Sealapex, Ketac Endo, and Fill Canal), two calcium hydroxide pastes (Calen and Calasept), and a zinc oxide paste was evaluated. Seven bacterial strains were used, six of them standard; Micrococcus luteus ATCC 9341, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 10541. There was a wild strain of Streptococcus mutans isolated from saliva obtained in an adult dental clinic. Activity was evaluated using the agar diffusion method with Brain Heart Infusion agar and Müller Hinton medium seeded by pour plate. Calcium hydroxide-based sealers and pastes were either placed directly into 4.0 x 4.0 mm wells or by using absorbent paper points. The plates were kept at room temperature for 2 hr for diffusion. After incubation at 37 degrees C for 24 hr, the medium was optimized with 0.05 g% TTC gel and inhibition haloes were measured. All bacterial strains were inhibited by all materials using the well method. However, when the materials were applied with absorbent paper points, Enterococcus faecalis was not inhibited by zinc oxide, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was not inhibited by AH Plus, Fill Canal, and the zinc oxide-based paste. We conclude that sealers and pastes presented antimicrobial activity in vitro and culture medium optimization with 0.05 g% TTC gel facilitated observation of the inhibition haloes.

Antibacterial activity of root canal filling materials for primary teeth: zinc oxide and eugenol cement, Calen paste thickened with zinc oxide, Sealapex and EndoREZ

“…Perhaps the fact that E. coli was inhibited by both eugenol and ZO may explain why in the present study ZOE produced the largest bacterial growth inhibition zones against E. coli (23.67 mm diameter), even larger than those produced by 1% CHX (19.33 mm diameter). Several authors (5,10,16) have attributed the antimicrobial effects of ZOE to eugenol.…”

“…The pre-incubation, which consisted of maintaining the culture media innoculated for about 2 h at room temperature, was an important factor to evince the antimicrobial activity of the calcium hydroxide pastes (5,14).…”

“…The endodontic infection in primary teeth with pulp necrosis and apical periodontitis is of polymicrobial nature with predominance of anaerobic bacteria (1), which are disseminated within the root canal system these microorganisms may persist even after biomechanical preparation and use of intracanal dressing (4), root canal filling materials should be able to eliminate residual pathogens, neutralize their toxic products and prevent canal reinfection to in order to create a favorable environment for the healing process to proceed (5). It is therefore important that root canal filling materials used in primary teeth have antimicrobial activity (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11) and the antimicrobial spectrum of action of these materials should be investigated.…”

“…It is therefore important that root canal filling materials used in primary teeth have antimicrobial activity (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11) and the antimicrobial spectrum of action of these materials should be investigated. The agar diffusion test has been widely used for such purpose (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(12)(13)(14).…”

Evaluation of cariogenic antibacterial activity of mineral trioxide aggregate and Portland cement

“…The antimicrobial activity of calcium hydroxide has been reported by the ability of ionization and releasing hydroxyl ions, raising the pH levels, creating an unfavorable environment for microbial growth [19][20] .…”