The antibacterial effects of calcium hydroxide apexification pastes on Streptococcus sanguis.

Four calcium hydroxide-based apexification pastes were tested for their antibacterial effects on Streptococcus sanguis. Their zones of growth inhibition on blood agar plates were measured at 2, 4, 6, and 8 days. Only the camphorated parachlorophenol and the metacresylacetate pastes showed zones of inhibition. Both of these zones of inhibition decreased with time; however, the zones of inhibition for the parachlorophenol paste decreased at a slower rate.