Aim of the study: is to compare the antibacterial effect of conventional calcium hydroxide (GAMA dental lab, Cairo, Egypt ) , calcium hydroxide with Activated Charcoal ( Eucarbon, Sedico, Cairo, Egypt), calcium hydroxide paste with iodoform (Metapex) (META,Chungcheongbuk-do,Korea ) and calcium hydroxide paste with iodoform (Metapex) mixed with Activated Charcoal against E-faecalis using Agar diffusion method.
Materials and Methods: Samples were classified into 4 groups according to the material used. Each group was further divided into 3 subgroups according to the observation time (1day, 3days and 7 days). Each subgroup consisted of 7 agar plates implanted with E-faecalis strain. Four Holes were created in each agar plate each hole contained one tested material.
Results: conventional Calcium hydroxide with saline had the largest inhibitory zone of E faecalis in agar diffusion test over all observation period followed by Activated Charcoal and conventional calcium hydroxide followed by calcium hydroxide paste with iodoform with Activated Charcoal and the calcium hydroxide mixed with iodoform had no change in inhibitory zone.
Conclusion: the addition of activated charcoal did not improve the antibacterial effect of conventional calcium hydroxide while it improves the antibacterial efficacy of the calcium hydroxide and iodoform ( Metapex).