Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Properties of Bioceramic Materials in Endodontics

Abstract

Microbes are prevalent in the root canals of necrotic teeth, and they are the cause of primary and post-treatment apical periodontitis. Bacteria can dwell within the infected root canal system as surface-adherent biofilm structures, which exhibit high resistance to antimicrobial agents. Bioceramic materials, with their biocompatible nature and excellent physico-chemical properties, have been widely used in dental applications, including endodontics. This review focuses on the application of bioceramic technology in endodontic disinfection and the antibiofilm effects of endodontic bioceramic materials. Different bioceramic materials have shown different levels of antibiofilm effects. New supplements have emerged to potentially enhance the antibiofilm properties of bioceramics aiming to achieve the goal of microbial elimination in the root canal system.

Keywords: bioceramic material; biofilm; root repair material; sealer.

Figure 1

Scanning electron microscope image of multi-species mature plaque biofilm grown on collagen-coated hydroxyapatite disk.

Figure 2

FIB-SEM image of a milled mature plaque biofilm composed of bacterial cells (white arrows), extracellular polymeric substances (yellow arrows) and micro water channels (green arrows).

Figure 3

SEM image of cross-section of (a) MTA and (b) EndoSequence root repair material putty exposed to butyric acid at pH 7.4 after 7 days of setting.

Figure 4

Confocal image of viability-stained plaque biofilm treated with (a) peptide 1018 and (b) peptide DJK-5. Red areas indicate killed bacteria, and green areas indicate live bacteria.