In vitro comparative study of antimicrobial efficacy of endodontic sealers against common pathogens in the dental pulp.

Overview: Different types of bacterial species, Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis), Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum), and Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), cause pulpal and periradicular diseases. Hence, the antibacterial efficacy of endodontic sealers is of utmost importance from a clinical point of view.

Aim: The main objective of the study is to test the antibacterial efficacy of endodontic sealers against endo microflora belonging to E. faecalis, F. nucleatum, and P. gingivalis species.

Materials and methods: The antibacterial effectiveness of five endodontic sealers (AH plus, Apexit, EndoRez, Endomethasone, and Tubliseal) was tested by means of the agar-diffusion test (ADT) and direct contact test (DCT). The bacterial suspension of individual microorganisms was applied separately onto the agar plates for ADT. Subsequently, freshly mixed and set sealer was applied on to the sterile discs. After 48 h of incubation, the inhibition zones were measured. For DCT, the sealers were put in 96-well cell culture plates and overlaid with bacterial suspension and brain heart infusion broth. The bacterial growth density of the liquid was tested by spectrophotometry at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 24 h.

Results: The data were analyzed using ANOVA and post hoc Turkey's test. The present study showed that Endomethasone and AH Plus had a good antibacterial effect.

Conclusion: In the ADT and DCT, Endomethasone showed the greatest antimicrobial effect against E. faecalis when compared to other endodontic sealers. In the ADT, Apexit had no antimicrobial effect on E. faecalis, whereas AH Plus had the greatest antibacterial effect on F. nucleatum and P gingivalis. Whereas in DCT, EndoRez and Endomethasone showed the greatest effect against F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis.