Suppression of bacterial adherence by experimental root canal sealers

To prevent reinfection after root canal treatment, root filling materials s hould be antimicrobial, This study assessed the antimicrobial efficacy of K T-308, a modified glass ionomer cement sealer, and three formulations of ZU T, a combination of KT-308 and three different concentrations of a silver-c ontaining zeolite. Discs prepared from the test materials and paper control s were incubated in Brain Heart Infusion broth for 12 wk. At 2-wk intervals , 18 discs from each group were inoculated with Enterococcus faecalis and i ncubated for periods of 1 to 30 h. After further processing, a 200 mu l ali quot of the broth immersing each disc was plated on agar and assessed for b acterial growth. The remaining broth was measured for optical density. All ZUT discs demonstrated no bacterial growth after 15 h of interaction, in co ntrast to abundant growth with the KT-308 and paper discs. Thus ZUT effecti vely suppressed adherent E. faecalis after 15 h, irrespective of its concen tration and age.