Comparative in vitro antibacterial activity of six root canal sealers against Enterococcus faecalis and Proteus vulgaris

Abstract

To evaluate the antimicrobial properties of six endodontic sealers in unset and set states against Enterococcus faecalis and Proteus vulgaris. Six endodontic sealers were investigated in the unset and set state against Enterococcus feacalis and Proteus vulgaris using agar diffusion and direct contact tests. The mean inhibition zones for agar diffusion tests with Enterococcus feacalis were 19 mm for AH-26, 11 mm for TopSeal and Roth 601, 1 mm for AH-Plus, and 0 mm for GuttaFlow and EndoREZ (Kruskal-Wallis, P < 0.001). The mean inhibition zones with Proteus vulgaris were 24 mm for Roth 601, 19 mm for TopSeal, 17 mm for AH-Plus, 16 mm for AH-26, and 0 mm for GuttaFlow and EndoREZ (Kruskal-Wallis, P < 0.001). Direct contact tests showed inhibition of both Enterococcus feacalis and Proteus vulgaris with AH-Plus, TopSeal, Roth 601, and AH-26 in the unset state. Only Roth 601 in the set state affected both the log and the stationary phase of Proteus vulgaris (logistic regression P < 0.001). With the exception of Roth 601, which retained its antimicrobial activity, the AH-Plus, TopSeal, and AH-26 sealers all demonstrated antimicrobial properties against Enterococcus feacalis and Proteus vulgaris that diminished when set. TopSeal significantly affected Enterococcus feacalis when compared with AH-Plus. GuttaFlow and EndoREZ expressed no antimicrobial activity.