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. 2024 Sep 29;16(9):e70459.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.70459. eCollection 2024 Sep.

Antimicrobial Properties of Newer Calcium Silicate-Based Pulp-Capping Agents Against Enterococcus Faecalis and Streptococcus Mutans: An In-Vitro Evaluation

Niranjana M  1 , Sunil Jose  1 , George Thomas  1 , Arun Shyam  1   2 , Aparna M  1
Affiliations

Antimicrobial Properties of Newer Calcium Silicate-Based Pulp-Capping Agents Against Enterococcus Faecalis and Streptococcus Mutans: An In-Vitro Evaluation

Niranjana M et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of calcium silicate-based pulp-capping agents against Enterococcus faecalis and Streptococcus mutans using an agar diffusion test.

Methods and materials: The agar diffusion method was used to evaluate the antibacterial properties of pulp-capping agents. The materials used included Bio-C® Temp (Angelus, Brazil), Dia-Root™ Bio mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) (Diadent Europe B.V., Almere, Netherlands), Biodentine™ (Septodont, Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France), and TheraCal LC (Bisco Inc., Schaumburg, IL). Eighteen petri dishes, nine for S. mutans and nine for E. faecalis, were divided into four parts each (one for each agent), for a total sample size of 72. The bacterial suspensions were transferred to the petri dishes using a sterile swab. Four wells with a diameter of 4 mm were then punched in each petri dish. The wells were filled with the pulp-capping agents, which had been mixed according to the manufacturer's instructions, and the petri dishes were incubated. The zone of inhibition was measured at 24 and 48 hours to assess the pulp-capping agents' antimicrobial efficacy against E. faecalis and S. mutans. The readings were tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis.

Results: At 24 hours, the highest zone of inhibition was found in the Biodentine™ group (15.83 ± 0.79 mm), followed by Dia-Root™ Bio MTA (14.5 ± 0.88 mm), TheraCal LC® (12.56 ± 0.53 mm), and the shortest in the Bio-C Temp (9.61 ± 0.70 mm) against S. mutans. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) test showed a high statistical significance. After 48 hours, there was no statistically significant difference in the mean zone of inhibition. At 24 hours, the highest zone of inhibition was found in the Biodentine™ group (20.56 ± 0.73 mm), followed by Dia-Root™ Bio MTA (20.06 ± 1.33 mm), TheraCal LC® (18.22 ± 0.97 mm), and the shortest in the Bio-C Temp (14.11 ± 0.78 mm) against E. faecalis. The ANOVA test indicated no statistically significant difference between the Biodentine™ and the Dia-Root™ Bio MTA groups. After 48 hours, there was no statistically significant difference in the mean zone of inhibition.

Conclusions: Biodentine™ has higher antibacterial efficacy against S. mutans, while Biodentine™ and Dia-Root™ Bio MTA have comparably high antibacterial activity against S. mutans and E. faecalis at 24 and 48 hours.

Keywords: agar diffusion test; antibacterial effects; bacteria; bioactive materials; pulp capping agents; zone of inhibition.

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Conflict of interest statement

Human subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve human participants or tissue. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Zone of inhibition formed by antibacterial activity of pulp-capping agents
(A) The prepared wells were filled with pulp-capping agents in a blood agar plate with Streptococcus ​​​mutans. (B) Zones of inhibition for Streptococcus mutans at 24 hours. (C) Zones of inhibition for Streptococcus mutans at 48 hours. (D) Prepared wells were filled with pulp-capping agents in an MHA plate with Enterococcus faecalis. (E) Zones of inhibition for Enterococcus faecalis at 24 hours. (F) Zones of inhibition for Enterococcus faecalis at 48 hours. MHA: Mueller-Hinton agar.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Comparison of the mean zones of inhibition at 24 and 48 hours among the study groups for Streptococcus mutans
MTA: Mineral trioxide aggregate.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Comparison of mean zones of inhibition at 24 and 48 hours among the study groups for Enterococcus faecalis
MTA: Mineral trioxide aggregate.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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