Antibacterial, antibiofilm and viability analysis in vitro of calcium silicate and epoxy resin-based filling sealers

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial and antibiofilm capacity against Enterococcus faecalis of endodontic sealers AH Plus Jet and the calcium silicate-based sealers, Bio-C Sealer and Sealer Plus BC. Methods: All experiments were performed with fresh endodontic sealers without setting. For this, antibacterial agar diffusion test, analysis of antibiofilm activity evaluated by confocal microscopy, assessment of cell viability and pH evaluation were used. Results: In the agar diffusion test, all sealers showed an ability to inhibit bacterial growth. In the antibiofilm analysis by confocal microscopy, all the evaluated sealers showed the ability to reduce the mature bacterial biofilm. A pH analysis was also performed in the period from 1min to 72h; calcium silicate-based sealers presented a more alkaline pH than AH Plus Jet, and Bio-C Sealer presented a pH greater than 11 in all the analyzed periods. In the assessment of cell viability AH Plus Jet demonstrated a lower cell viability after 24h. However, after 72h, all sealers led to a reduction in cell viability when compared to control. Conclusions: Bio-C Sealer and Sealer Plus BC and AH Plus Jet showed similar antibiofilm capacity against mature E. faecalis biofilms. Furthermore, all evaluated sealers showed antibacterial capacity in the agar diffusion test, and AH Plus Jet and Bio-C Sealer showed significantly greater inhibition of bacterial growth than Sealer Plus BC. Thus, evaluated sealers demonstrated antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against E. faecalis. Knowledge about the antibiofilm and antibacterial activity of endodontic sealers for E. faecalis is relevant, as it is currently one of the main causes of failure in endodontic treatment.