Growth inhibition of Streptococcus anginosus (milleri) by three calcium hydroxide sealers and one zinc oxide-eugenol sealer

The inhibition of growth of Streptococcus anginosus (milleri) by three calc ium hydroxide sealers-calciobiotic root canal sealer (Hygienic Corporation, Akron, OH), Sealapex (Kerr Division, Sybron Corporation, Romulus, MI), and Apexit (Vivadent, USA, Amherst, NY)-was compared with a zinc oxide-eugenol sealer: Roth (Roth International, Chicago, II). Sixteen brain heart infusi on agar plates were inoculated with S. anginosus. Each prate was divided in to five separate areas. In each area, a 0.1 mi droplet of a given sealer wa s placed such that each plate had five areas with the same sealer. There we re four plates (for each of the four sealers) for a total of 20 observation areas to evaluate each sealer. The plates were incubated at 37 degrees C i n a 5% CO2 atmosphere. After varying periods of incubation, the zones of in hibition of bacterial growth were observed and measured. Roth sealer had a statistically significant larger mean zone of inhibition than the calcium h ydroxide sealers. However, all of the sealers exhibited clinically relevant antimicrobial activity. It is likely that the eugenol in the Roth sealer i s responsible for its greater antimicrobial activity.