Evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy of various root canal filling materials for primary teeth

Four materials viz. zinc oxide-eugenol, iodoform paste, Kri paste, Maisto's paste and Vitapex (Calcium hydroxide + iodoform) were tested for their antibacterial effect against the aerobic and anerobic bacteria, viz. Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus viridans, Streptococcus faecalis, Bacteroides melaninogenicus and mixed bacterial culture; obtained from infected non-vital deciduous anterior teeth. The antimicrobial sensitivity was checked on BHI-agar plates using well method. The results showed that all the 4 materials were distinctly different from each other in their antimicrobial activity. Maisto's paste was invariably the superior most in its antibacterial efficacy (in comparison to all the 5 micro-organism strains). Iodoformized zincoxide eugenol appeared to be the second best followed by Kri paste. Vitapex showed the least antibacterial activity.