title: An Invitro Evaluation of Antimicrobial Efficacy and Flow Characteristics for AH Plus, MTA Fillapex, CRCS and Gutta Flow 2 Root Canal Sealer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cleaning and shaping of root canal does not guarantee complete disinfection of the canal, regardless of the systems and techniques used for this purpose. Therefore, it becomes mandatory for the endodontic filling materials to have a good antimicrobial potential especially against E. faecalis. This research was aimed therefore to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy and flow properties of different root canal sealers.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study invitro antimicrobial activity and flow characteristics for Resin based (AH Plus), Mineral Trioxide Aggregate based (MTA Fillapex), Calcium hydroxide based (CRCS) and Flowable Gutta-Percha (Gutta Flow 2) endodontic sealers on Enterococcus faecalis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 was used to test antibacterial potential of sealers by Agar diffusion test (ADT) and Direct Contact Test (DCT). ADT was performed by punching the sealers on a well of 4×6mm diameter on Muller Hinton agar plates. These plates were inoculated with standard suspension of E. faecalis and the zone of inhibition was measured at 24 hours and after 7 days. All the sealers were prepared in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. Flow of sealers was measured according to ADA specification no. 57.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All sealers showed antibacterial activity against E. faecalis except Gutta Flow 2. At 24 hours, zone of inhibition was highest in Calcibiotic Root Canal Sealer (CRCS) and lowest in AH Plus. After 7 days the zone of inhibition decreased in AH plus, CRCS and MTA Fillapex. DCT showed a significant lower number of organisms in AH Plus, CRCS and MTA than controls at both the time intervals. Gutta Flow 2 did not show any significant antimicrobial action. Maximum and minimum flow was shown by AH Plus and CRCS respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Highest microbial inhibition was shown by (CRCS), followed by MTA Fillapex and AH Plus. Gutta Flow 2 did not show any inhibition of E. faecalis by ADT. Maximum reduction in antibacterial property with time against E. faecalis was seen with AH Plus. Maximum flow was shown by AH Plus and minimum by CRCS.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics, Faculty of Dental Sciences, King George's Medical University , Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India .
authors.forename: Vijay Kumar
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Shakya
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, King George's Medical University , Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India .
authors.forename: Prashant
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics, Faculty of Dental Sciences, King George's Medical University , Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India .
authors.forename: Aseem P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Tikku
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dental Sciences, King George's Medical University , Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India .
authors.forename: Anjani Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Pathak
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics, Faculty of Dental Sciences, King George's Medical University , Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India .
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chandra
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics, Faculty of Dental Sciences, King George's Medical University , Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India .
authors.forename: Rakesh Kumar
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics, Faculty of Dental Sciences, King George's Medical University , Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India .
authors.forename: Ramesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bharti
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Paediatric & Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Sciences, King George's Medical University , Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India .
authors.forename: Rajeev Kumar
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Singh
keywords: Endodontic treatment; Enterococcus faecalis; Root canal obturation