Romanian Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences
 

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ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF CALCIUM SILICATE-BASED ENDODONTIC MATERIALS: A DISC DIFFUSION STUDY

ROXANA TALPOȘ-NICULESCU 1#, LUMINIȚA MARIA NICA 1#, LAURA CRISTINA RUSU 2, ADINA MARIANA MATICA 3, ȘERBAN TALPOȘ-NICULESCU 4*, MĂLINA POPA 5#, ION VALERIU CARABA 6,7, MARIOARA NICOLETA CARABA 7,8

1 Discipline of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics, Research Center TADERP, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
2 Discipline of Oral Pathology, Multidisciplinary Center for Research, Evaluation, Diagnosis and Therapies in Oral Medicine, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
3 Department of Biology, Faculty of Chemistry-Biology-Geography, West University of Timișoara, 300315 Timișoara, Romania
4 Discipline of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300062 Timișoara, Romania
5 Discipline of Pedodontics, Pediatric Dentistry Research Center, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
6 Faculty of Bioengineering of Animal Resources, Banat University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “King Mihai I of Romania” from Timișoara, Calea Aradului 119, RO 300645, Timișoara, Romania
7 ANAPATMOL Research Center, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timișoara, 300041 Timișoara, Romania;
8 Cellular and Molecular Biology Department, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timișoara, E. Murgu 2, Timișoara, 300041, Romania

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Calcium silicate-based materials are used in endodontic therapy as sealers, or as root repair materials due to their favourable properties, including high biocompatibility, bioactivity, and increased alkalizing effect. This study aimed to evaluate their antimicrobial potential in comparison to one calcium hydroxide paste, used as intracanal medication. Five bioceramic sealers, five calcium silicate-based cements and one calcium hydroxide paste were directly placed in contact with 3 bacterial strains: Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213), Enterococcus casseliflavus (ATCC 700327), Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolate, and 3 fungal strains: Candida parapsilosis (ATCC 22019), Candida parapsilosis and Candida glabrata clinical isolate. The analysis method used was the disc diffusion. Data were collected in tables and statistically analysed using both parametric and non-parametric tests. Significant differences in antibacterial activity were found against both Staphylococcus aureus strains. Antifungal differences were less marked. No significant differences were found for Candida glabrata. Calcium hydroxide exhibited the strongest overall antimicrobial effect. However, several calcium silicate-based materials demonstrated comparable antibacterial and antifungal properties. Their capacity to prevent bacterial and fungal growth may play a crucial role in the success of endodontic treatments by minimizing the risk of infections.