title: In vitro antibacterial activity of different pulp capping materials.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Direct pulp capping involves the application of a dental material to seal communications between the exposed pulp and the oral cavity (mechanical and carious pulp exposures) in an attempt to act as a barrier, protect the dental pulp complex and preserve its vitality. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare, by the agar disc diffusion test, the antimicrobial activity of six different pulp-capping materials: Dycal (Dentsply), Calcicur (Voco), Calcimol LC (Voco), TheraCal LC (Bisco), MTA Angelus (Angelus), Biodentine (Septodont).
  
  
  METHODS
  Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus sanguis and Streptococcus mutans strains were selected to evaluate the antimicrobial activity by the agar disc diffusion test of different pulp capping materials. Paper disks were impregnated whit each pulp capping materials and placed onto culture agar-plates pre-adsorbed with bacterial cells and further incubated for 24 h at 37°C. The growth inhibition zones around each pulp capping materials were recorded and compared for each bacterial strain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the investigation of the antibacterial properties the ANOVA showed the presence of significant differences among the various materials. Tukey test showed that MTA-based materials induced lower growth inhibition zones.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MTA-based products show a discrete antibacterial activity varying from calcium hydroxide-based materials which present an higher antibacterial activity.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Agar disc diffusion test, antimicrobial activity, calcium hydroxide, MTA, pulp capping materials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical-Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences - Section of Dentistry, University of Pavia, Piazzale Golgi 3, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Poggio
authors.affiliation: Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences - Section of Statistic, University of Pavia, Piazzale Golgi 3, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beltrami
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical-Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences - Section of Dentistry, University of Pavia, Piazzale Golgi 3, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical-Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences - Section of Dentistry, University of Pavia, Piazzale Golgi 3, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ceci
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical-Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences - Section of Dentistry, University of Pavia, Piazzale Golgi 3, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dagna
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical-Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences - Section of Dentistry, University of Pavia, Piazzale Golgi 3, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chiesa