The Effect of Serum Protein on Enterococcus Faecalis Adhesion to Three types of Root Sealers and Gutta-Percha

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of serum protein on Enterococcus faecalis adhesion and survival on the surface of Apexit Plus (AP), AH-Plus (AH), a tricalcium silicate–containing sealer (Iroot SP) and gutta-percha (GP). AP, AH or Iroot SP was evenly coated on GP. After root sealers setting, the amount of E. faecalis adhering to the sealers was evaluated in fetal bovine serum (FBS) or TSBG medium by viable cell plate counts. The morphology of the sealers coated on GP and 7-day-old E. faecalis biofilm was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, the ratios of viable and dead cells in biofilm were calculated by a Carl Zeiss confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) and ZEN software. In 1 and 7 days of assays, the amount of E. faecalis adhering to the surface of sealers or GP in FBS was significantly less than in TSBG (P E. faecalis biofilm on the AP and SP were more typical in the TSBG than in the FBS. The ratio of viable cell in the E. faecalis biofilm was the lowest on the SP by CLSM. It can be stated that Apexit Plus, AH-Plus and Iroot SP sealers may provide the substrate for E. faecalis adhesion, and the serum proteins significantly influenced bacterial adhesion to the surface of Apexit Plus, AH-Plus, Iroot SP and gutta-percha.