This study was designed to compare the antimicrobial effect of the several root canal cements and to determine the duration of their activity. After Strep. sanguis 9811 was streaked on the surface of BHI agar and Plain agar, PVC tubes filled with root canal cements were applied and cultured for 48 hours, aerobically. Following results were obtained, 1. All of the examined root canal cements had antimicrobial activity with varying degree. 2. The antimicrobial activity of N2 was larger than any other root canal cements. Nogenol and Tubliseal showed the lowest activity. ZOE, AH26, Procosol and PCA cement showed the moderate antimicrobial activity. (P>0.05) 3. At one day after mixing the root canal cements, all of the root canal cements except N2 and PCA cement showed greatly reduced antimicrobial activity. 4. At three days after mixing, PCA cement showed the reduced antimicrobial activity. N2 showed the reduced activity at 7 days after mixing.