Objective: The purpose of the present study was to compare the antibacterial activity of different endodontic sealers against facultative anaerobic bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis) and obligate anaerobic bacteria (Prevotella intermedia, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Parvimonas micra).
Materials and Methods: Using Agar diffusion test (ADT): Tubli-seal EWT sealer (Kerr SybronEndo Corporation, Orange, CA), AH Plus sealer (Dentsply, Konstanz, Germany), MTA Fillapex sealer (Angelus, Curitiba, Brazil), and Endosequence BC Sealer (Brasseler, Savannah, GA, USA) were mixed and placed into the prepared holes in Muller Hinton agar and Tryptic Soy agar. Then, the extension of the inhibition zone was measured after 24h, 48h, 5 days, and 7 days. The mean values of the antibacterial inhibition diameter were analyzed using a two-way ANOVA and a post hoc test.
Results: AH plus sealer showed the highest inhibition zone against Enterococcus faecalis followed by Endosequence BC sealer while Tubli-seal EWT did not show inhibition zone against Enterococcus faecalis. On the other hand, MTA Fillapex sealer showed the highest effectiveness against the tested obligate anaerobic bacteria (Prevotella intermedia, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Parvimonas micra) followed by Tubli-seal EWT sealer then, Endosequence BC sealer. AH plus Sealer showed no inhibition zone against the examined obligate anaerobic bacteria.
Conclusion: Within the limitation of the current study, the tested endodontic sealers demonstrated variable antibacterial effects. The null hypothesis was rejected.
