ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITIES OF ROOT-CANAL SEALERS AGAINST SELECTED ANAEROBIC-BACTERIA

The antibacterial effects of four endodontic sealers were evaluated on six anaerobic bacteria and two facultative anaerobes commonly isolate d from infected root canals, Calcium hydroxide powder mixed with salin e solution was also tested, The agar diffusion test was used, and the zones of inhibition around each sealer were recorded and compared, Fil l Canal, a zinc oxide-eugenol-based sealer, showed large zones of inhi bition against all bacteria tested, Sealer 26, an epoxy resin containi ng calcium hydroxide, was inhibitory to most of the strains, but it wa s not effective against Porphyromonas endodontalis and Porphyromonas g ingivalis, Next in order was calcium hydroxide followed by Sealapex, b oth with low activity, Apexit showed no antibacterial activity, Diffic ulties in interpreting the results of agar diffusion tests are recogni zed.