title: Antimicrobial Efficacy of Mixtures of Nanosilver and Zinc Oxide Eugenol against Enterococcus faecalis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to assess the antimicrobial efficacy of 0, 0.5, 2, and 5 wt% nanosilver in conjunction with zinc oxide eugenol (ZOE) against Enterococcus faecalis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nanosilver in 0.5, 2, and 5 wt% concentrations was added to ZOE and the antibacterial activity of the mixtures on E. faecalis was assessed using disk diffusion method, and the results were reported as the diameter of the growth inhibition zone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The diameters of the growth inhibition zones around 0, 0.5, 2, and 5 wt% concentrations of nanosilver particles were not significantly different at 24 and 48 hours and 1 week; however, the difference with the azithromycin disk was significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering the lack of a significant increase in the diameter of the growth inhibition zones around 0, 0.5, 2, and 5 wt% ZOE containing nanosilver, it appears that addition of nanosilver up to 5 wt% cannot improve the antibacterial properties of ZOE sealer against E. faecalis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Microorganisms present in the root canal system of primary teeth are mainly responsible for endodontic infections. Enterococcus faecalis is the most important cause of endodontic failure. Application of sealers that decrease the adhesion and colonization of bacteria, as well as susceptibility to bacterial infections can greatly help in this regard. Using these sealers in conjunction with antibacterial agents, such as nanosilver particles may yield higher antibacterial efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Dental School, Shahed University, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Roza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haghgoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Dental School, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Islamic Republic of Iran, e-mail: motahare.ahmadvannd@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Motahareh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmadvand
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Medical School, Shahed University, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nyakan
authors.affiliation: Private Practice, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Mojtaba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jafari
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D052978:Disk Diffusion Antimicrobial Tests; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects*; D005054:Eugenol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018030:Silver Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D018030:Silver Compounds; D005054:Eugenol; D015034:Zinc Oxide
keywords: Antibacterial agents; Enterococcus faecalis; Laboratory research; Nanosilver Zinc oxide eugenol cement.