Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity of Two Endodontic Sealers: Zinc Oxide with Thyme Oil and Zinc Oxide Eugenol against Root Canal Microorganisms— An in vitro Study

AIM: The present study was aimed to find out and compare the antimicrobial effect of the paste containing zinc oxide cement mixed with thyme oil (ZO + Th oil) with that of the paste containing zinc oxide and eugenol (ZO + E) against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, common root canal pathogens of deciduous teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An in vitro antimicrobial effect was carried out by the agar diffusion method. The ZO + Th oil paste was filled in the punched holes of Mueller Hinton agar at two equidistant points. The same was followed for ZO + E paste. For 24 hours, all the plates were incubated at a temperature of 37°C. The inhibition zones in millimeters around the wells were calculated. There were 6 times repetitions of the test for each microorganism. Data were tabulated and analyzed statistically using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s post hoc comparison test. Level of significance for the tests was 5%. RESULTS: Zones of bacterial inhibition were highest for ZO + Th oil paste against the pathogenic microorganisms S. aureus, followed by E. coli, E. faecalis, P. aeruginosa while for ZO + E paste, the decreasing order against pathogenic microorganisms was E. coli, S. aureus, E. faecalis, and P. aeruginosa. Statistically significant difference was found in both the pastes, ZO + Th oil paste and ZO + E paste. CONCLUSION: ZO + Th oil paste showed higher levels of antimicrobial effect against the root canal pathogens. How to cite this article: Thosar NR, Chandak M, Bhat M, Basak S. Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity of Two Endodontic Sealers: Zinc Oxide with Thyme Oil and Zinc Oxide Eugenol against Root Canal Microorganisms—An in vitro Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2018;11(2):79-82.