title: Antimicrobial activity of four root canal sealers against endodontic pathogens.
abstract: The antibacterial effects of various types of widely used endodontic sealers have not been compared systematically on facultative or obligate anaerobic endodontic pathogens. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial properties of four commonly used endodontic sealers: two epoxy-resin-based sealers (AH26, AH plus), one zinc-oxide eugenol-based sealer (N2), and one calcium hydroxide-based sealer (Sealapex). The testing microbes were four facultative anaerobic species (Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus) and four obligate anaerobic species (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Porphyromonas endodontalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Prevotella intermedia). The freshly mixed sealers were placed into the prepared wells of agar plates inoculated with the test microorganisms. After varying periods of incubation (2 days for facultative anaerobic species and 7 days for obligate anaerobic species), the zones of growth inhibition were observed and measured. All the sealers were distinctly different from each other in their antimicrobial activity. The sealers showed different inhibitory effects depending on the types and bacterial strains. N2 containing formaldehyde and eugenol proved to be the most effective against the microorganisms. The extreme antimicrobial potency of this root canal sealer must be weighted against its pronounced tissue toxic effect.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Stomatology, Chung Shan Medical and Dental College Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Y C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000187:drug effects*; D001729:Bismuth / Q000494:pharmacology; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D003788:Dental Pulp Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004853:Epoxy Resins / Q000494:pharmacology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D005054:Eugenol / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D016967:Fusobacterium nucleatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008709:Methenamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D017861:Porphyromonas / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D018713:Prevotella intermedia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012459:Salicylates / Q000494:pharmacology; D012834:Silver / Q000494:pharmacology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D013298:Streptococcus sanguis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D014025:Titanium / Q000494:pharmacology; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D015035:Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004853:Epoxy Resins; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D012459:Salicylates; D015035:Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement; C534916:epoxy resin-based root canal sealer; C055601:Sealapex; D005557:Formaldehyde; D012834:Silver; D005054:Eugenol; C028044:epoxy resin AH-26; C003799:N2 Dental Cement; D014025:Titanium; D008709:Methenamine; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide; D015034:Zinc Oxide; D001729:Bismuth