An in vitro evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy of primary root canal filling materials.
OBJECTIVE
The present study aimed to evaluate and compare six different materials commonly used for filling the root canals of primary teeth for antimicrobial efficacy against some of the microorganisms commonly found in infected root canals.


METHODS
In this experimental in vitro study six root canal filling materials were tested for antimicrobial efficacy against eight microbial strains using the agar diffusion method.


RESULTS
Zinc oxide eugenol paste exhibited the strongest antimicrobial potential followed by Endoflas, zinc oxide-calcium hydroxide-sodium fluoride mixture, zinc oxide-calcium hydroxide mixture and calcium hydroxide paste (Apexcal). The addition of sodium fluoride to the zinc oxide-calcium hydroxide mixture enhanced the antimicrobial efficacy. Metapex demonstrated minimal inhibition and Vaseline was non-inhibitory.


CONCLUSIONS
All the test filling materials demonstrated varying antimicrobial activity against the microorganisms tested. Zinc oxide eugenol paste and materials containing zinc oxide were found to be more effective against the microorganisms compared to materials without zinc oxide.
Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Pacific Dental College and Hospital, Udaipur, India. drsapnahegde@yahoo.co.in
Sapna
S
Hegde
Priti Kamlesh
PK
Lala
Rao B
RB
Dinesh
A B
AB
Shubha
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000187:drug effects; D058491:Bacterial Load / Q000187:drug effects; D001466:Barium Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004338:Drug Combinations; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006847:Hydrocarbons, Iodinated / Q000494:pharmacology; D008422:Materials Testing; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012827:Silicone Oils / Q000494:pharmacology; D012969:Sodium Fluoride / Q000494:pharmacology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000187:drug effects; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D015035:Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement / Q000494:pharmacology
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; C546890:ApexCal; D004338:Drug Combinations; C098568:Endoflas F.S.; D006847:Hydrocarbons, Iodinated; C498115:Metapex; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D012827:Silicone Oils; D015035:Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D012969:Sodium Fluoride; C010473:iodoform; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide; D015034:Zinc Oxide