The effectiveness of endodontic sealers and endodontic medicaments on the elimination of enterococcus faecalis: an in vitro study

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of endodontic sealers and endodontic medicaments: Aureoseal (OGNA), MTA (DENTSPLY), calcium hydroxide (CH) (Endoidrox OGNA) and iodoformic paste (OGNA) against Enterococcus faecalis. Thirty-six Biomeraux plates (18 MH and 18 DCO) were inoculated with the experimental suspensions. The E. faecalis broth culture suspensions were prepared and adjusted to no. 0.5-0.7 McFarland standard. In each agar plate, three cavities were created, each measuring 4mm in depth and 7mm in diameter, and then completely filled with the product to be tested. To investigate the root canal sealers' antimicrobial activity, the agar diffusion method is used. The diameters of the zones of microbial inhibition were measured in millimeters around the plate. The results showed that the antimicrobial activity of Aureoseal was superior to those of MTA, iodoformic paste and calcium hydroxide for the microorganisms tested. The study confirmed the resistance of Enterococcus faecalis to endodontic sealers. Aureoseal and Calcium hydroxide showed the best results in inhibition test suggesting to employ them in clinical cases.