Antibacterial activity of a new endodontic sealer against Enterococcus faecalis

The purpose of this study was to test a new root canal sealer (Epiphany) and 5 other root canal sealers (Diaket, Endomethasone, AH 26, Sealapex, Sultan) for their antimicrobial effect on Enterococcus faecalis.

The antimicrobial effect of 6 root canal sealers was tested by the agar diffusion method. The freshly mixed sealers were placed in prepared wells of agar plates inoculated with E. faecalis. All plates were incubated for 72 hours at 37 degrees C under aerobic conditions, and zones of inhibition were measured at 24, 48 and 72 hours.

All of the sealers caused bacterial growth inhibition. Their effectiveness, in descending order of antimicrobial activity, was as follows: Endomethasone, Sultan, Sealapex, Diaket, Epiphany and AH 26. Epiphany sealer had little effect on the tested microorganism. The effectiveness of the root canal sealers decreased marginally with greater duration of incubation.

The Epiphany root canal sealer offered no antibacterial advantage over the other sealers tested.