Antimicrobial activity of Ca(OH)2 dental cements: an in vitro study

The effect of five commercial calcium hydroxide root canal medications (XR-SPAD, Calcicur, Hy-cal, Root-cal, Hypo-cal) and two calcium hydroxide mixtures (with water or glycerin) on the growth of (a) three anaerobic bacteria associated with endodontic infections; and (b) saliva bacterial strains was determined using the agar diffusion inhibitory test. Statistically significant zones of bacterial growth inhibition for all the bacteria tested were observed. Calcium hydroxide mixed with glycerin showed the largest zones of bacterial inhibition, whereas Root-cal was the least active. These results underline the necessity to evaluate the antibacterial potential of endodontic medications against the different bacterial strains commonly isolated from infected root canals.