Abstract

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to compare the antimicrobial effect of AH-26, RealSeal (RS), and GuttaFlow after 24 hours and after one week. METHODOLOGY All sealers were prepared according to the manufacturers' directions immediately before testing. The microorganisms used in this assay included Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mutans, which were prepared from isolated species in the microbiology laboratory. The antimicrobial effects of each sealer were determined by measuring the diameter of the zone of inhibition in millimeters after incubation at 37 degrees C for 24 hours and for seven days in a humid atmosphere. Each test was repeated three times. RESULTS In the 24-hour samples, as well as in seven-day samples, the antibacterial activity of AH-26 was significantly greater than two other materials tested against both bacteria (p < 0.05). The antibacterial activities of RS and GuttaFlow against Staphylococcus aureus were not significantly different from each other (p > 0.05) in 24-hour as well as seven-day samples, but RS had significantly greater effect against Streptococcus mutans than GuttaFlow (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION The products studied exhibited some variable antibacterial properties. In 24 hours, as well as in seven days, the AH-26 exerted the greatest activity against both organisms tested.