The antimicrobial effect of various endodontic sealers

The antimicrobial activity of an endodontic sealer can be helpful in destroying any remaining root canal microbes. Therefore it was decided to test the antimicrobial activity of several commonly used endodontic sealers. The sealers used were Grossman's sealer, Tubliseal, Calciobiotic, Sealapex, Hypocal, eucapercha, Nogenol, and AH26. Also tested were dry calcium hydroxide powder, calcium hydroxide mixed with saline, and a Teflon formulation. The microbes used were Streptococcus mutans (a gram-positive microaerophile). Staphylococcus aureus (a gram-positive facultative anaerobe), and Bacteroides endodontalis (a gram-negative obligate anaerobe). The freshly mixed sealers were placed into the prepared wells of agar plates inoculated with the test microorganisms. After varying periods of incubation, the zones of inhibition of bacterial growth were observed and measured. Grossman's sealer had the greatest overall antibacterial activity. However, AH26 had the greatest activity against B. endodontalis. The zinc oxide-eugenol-based sealers had more antimicrobial activity than either the calcium hydroxide-based sealers or eucapercha.