Comparison of regrowth of Enterococcus faecalis in dentinal tubules after sealing with gutta-percha or Resilon.

The objective of this study was to compare the sealing ability of gutta-percha (GP) and Resilon on Enterococcus faecalis in the dentinal tubules. Bovine root dentin blocks were infected and filled with GP alone, GP with zinc oxide-eugenol sealer, GP with resin sealer, or Resilon with resin sealer. The blocks were incubated in Brain-Heart Infusion agar plates up to 4 weeks, after which dentin chips were collected from the canal walls. The optical density of the culture medium containing the dentin chips was measured and analyzed statistically. Our results indicated that none of the filling materials were able to prevent the regrowth of E. faecalis completely. Although we noted no significant differences in bacterial counts among those groups filled with sealers, different patterns of change in bacterial counts were noted regarding time points. Filling with Resilon and a resin-based sealer induced a significant reduction in the bacterial counts over time (P < .05).