Antibiofilm and antimicrobial activity of temporary filling materials on root canals: an in situ acid challenge

The present study evaluated the antibiofilm and antimicrobial effects of temporary restorative materials on root canals after an intra-oral challenge. Seventy roots were endodontically treated and divided into 5 groups: high-viscosity glass ionomer (HV-GIC), light-activated glass ionomer (RM-GIC), zinc-oxide cement without eugenol (ZO), zinc-oxide cement with eugenol (ZOE), and unsealed roots (negative control). For 28 days, 14 participants used intra-oral devices with five roots, and drops of sucrose were applied onto them. The amount of biofilm and the bacterial counts were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn, and by two-way ANOVA and Tukey (a = 0.05). HV-GIC and RM-GIC better inhibit biofilm, followed by ZO and ZOE. Unsealed roots had the largest biofilm accumulation (p = 0.002) and higher bacterial penetration than restored roots (p = 0.023). A low amount of Streptococcus was found in RM-GIC and ZOE-restored roots without difference from HV-GIC (p = 0.021). The low amount of Enterococcus (p = 0.003) was found in the ZOE-restored roots, without difference from GICs.

Automated summary

The study evaluated the effects of temporary restorative materials on antibiofilm and antimicrobial activity in root canals after an intra-oral challenge. Different materials were applied to treated roots and compared based on their ability to inhibit biofilm and bacterial penetration. High-viscosity glass ionomer and light-activated glass ionomer showed the strongest antibiofilm properties, followed by zinc-oxide cement without eugenol and zinc-oxide cement with eugenol. Unsealed roots had the highest biofilm accumulation and bacterial penetration compared to restored roots.