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 calcium 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, IL). Sixteen brain heart infusion agar plates were inoculated with S. anginosus. Each plate was divided into five separate areas. In each area, a 0.1 ml droplet of a given sealer was placed such that each plate had five areas with the same sealer. There were 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 in a 5% CO2 atmosphere. After varying periods of incubation, the zones of inhibition of bacterial growth were observed and measured. Roth sealer had a statistically significant larger mean zone of inhibition than the calcium hydroxide sealers. However, all of the sealers exhibited clinically relevant antimicrobial activity. It is likely that the eugenol in the Roth sealer is responsible for its greater antimicrobial activity.