Antibacterial activity of three endodontic sealers with various bases

The antibacterial activity of three endodontic sealers, a Ca(OH)2 based sealer (apexit) a Zoe based sealer (Drofill) and a resin based sealer (AH26) was assessed on the growth of an anaerobic bacteria (peprostreptococcus spp.) using the Agar diffusion test (ADT). Thirty brain heart diffusion agar plates were incubated with peptostreptococcus anaerobics. Each plate was divided into two separate areas. In one area, 0.1ml droplet of a given fresh sealer and in the other area a dry material of the same sealer were placed, such that each plate had two areas with the same sealer in two forms of fresh and dry (setform). There were ten plates for each of the three sealers. The plates were placed into anaerobic jars and incubated at 37°C. After varying periods, zone of inhibition of bacterial growth were observed, measured and compared by t and Paired T-test. There was no statistically significant differences between the activity of AH26 and drofill in the fresh form(P>0.05). However there were significant differences between (the two sealers in set form) (P<0.05) Drofill was more antibacterials in the set form than AH26. All sealers were more active when fresh than ages. It is likely that the eugenol in the Dorifill and the formaldehyde in the AH26 are responsible for their greater antimicrobial activity.