Physicochemical properties, bond strength, and antibiofilm activity of a powder-gel bioceramic endodontic sealer

Abstract

Physicochemical properties, bond strength, and antibiofilm activity of a powder-gel bioceramic endodontic sealer, Sealer Plus BC (SPBC, MK Life, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil), were evaluated in comparison with Bio-C Sealer (BCS, Angelus, Londrina, PR, Brazil), a reference bioceramic sealer, and AH Plus Jet (AHP, Dentsply DeTrey, Konstanz, Germany), a standard resin-based sealer. The setting time, pH, solubility, flow, and radiopacity were evaluated in accordance with ISO 6876:2012 standards. Bond strength was measured using the Push-Out test. Antibiofilm activity against Enterococcus faecalis alone or in combination with Candida albicans was assessed using a modified direct contact test with the eluate of fresh sealer (25 mg/mL) and after 24 hours of material setting. The data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey statistical tests (α = 0.05). SPBC exhibited higher Setting Time values compared to BCS and lower values compared to AHP (p < 0.05). BCS and SPBC had higher solubility values than 3% (p<0.05). BCS demonstrated flow values higher than those of SPBC and AHP (p<0.05). SPBC showed lower radiopacity (p<0.05) and higher bond strength (p<0.05) than BCS and AHP. SPBC and BCS exhibited alkaline pH throughout all evaluated periods. They demonstrated antimicrobial activity against Enterococcus faecalis and/or Candida albicans in the eluate of fresh sealer and 24 hours after setting (p < 0.05). In conclusion, SPBC powder-gel sealer, as a filling material, meets most ISO 6876 standards for physicochemical properties, demonstrates bond strength to dentin, and exhibits antimicrobial activity against both dual and single-specimen biofilms. However, it has a solubility greater than 3%.