title: Evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy of various root canal filling materials used in primary teeth: a microbiological study.
abstract: The primary goal of endodontic treatment in primary teeth is to eliminate infection, and to retain the tooth in a functional state until their nornal exfoliation time without endangering the permanent dentition or the general health of the child. The complexity of the pulp canal system in primary teeth presents a discerning problem for chemo-mechanical preparation. One of the factors determining the success of endodontic treatment in infected primary teeth is the sealing material that should encompass among other factors a potent bactericidal effect and the capacity to resorb along with the roots of primary teeth. This study evaluated the antimicrobial effectiveness of 5 root canal filing materials and a negative control agent against 23 strains of bacteria isolated from infected root canals of primary molar teeth and 3 non standard bacterial strains using agar diffusion assay. The materials were Zinc oxide and Eugenol (ZOE), Zinc oxide-Eugenol and Formocresol (ZOE+FC), Calcium hydroxide and sterile water (CAOH+H2O), Zinc oxide and Camphorated phenol (ZO+CP), Calcium hydroxide and Iodoform (Metapex) and Vaseline (Control). All the materials except Vaseline showed varied antimicrobial activity against the test bacteria. The zones of inhibition were ranked into 4 inhibition categories based on the proportional distribution of the data. All the 26 bacterial isolates were classified under 4 groups based on Aerobic/Anaerobic and Gram positive/Gram negative. Statistical analysis was carried out to compare the antimicrobial effectiveness between materials tested with each of the bacterial groupings. ZOE+FC produced strong inhibtion against most bacteria when compared to ZOE, ZO+CP and CAOH+H2O. Metapex and Vaseline were found to be non inhibitory
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Govt Dental College and Hospital. Afzalgunj, Hyderabad- 555512 Andhra Pradesh, India. Kittypedo@yahoo.com
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ramakrishna
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000382:microbiology*; D003790:Dental Pulp Necrosis / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008963:Molar; D010482:Periapical Abscess / Q000382:microbiology; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials