In vitro comparison to study the antimicrobial effect of silver nanoparticles gel and its various combinants as an intracanal medicament against Enterococcus faecalis

Endodontic infections have been clearly described as biofilm-mediated infections. Bacteria and their by-products have been known to cause these infections. With the introduction of new drugs and the use of nanoparticles in recent times, there has been a significant reduction in the bacterial load in endodontic infections. The in vitro study focuses on checking the antibacterial efficacy of silver nanoparticles and its combination with other medicaments against the root canal pathogen – Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis). In the present study, 140 extracted human teeth were used. The teeth were sectioned, and biomechanical preparation was done. The root canals of the extracted teeth were inoculated with the culture of E. faecalis. The teeth were divided into six groups based on the intracanal medicament used: Group 1 – Silver nanocure gelGroup 2 – Silver nanocure gel + Cavisept gel (1:1)Group 3 - Silver nanocure gel + Aveu-Cal gel (1:1)Group 4 – Silver nanocure gel + Cavisept gel + Aveu-Cal gel (1:1:1)Group 5 - Positive control (specimens were inoculated with Enterococcus faecalis and left untreated to confirm the presence of infection)Group 6 - Negative control (no bacterial contamination of specimens). The colony-forming units were recorded after 48 h of incubation. The statistical analysis of the colony-forming units was done using the Kruskal–Wallis tests. Silver nanocure gel + Cavisept gel + Aveu-Cal gel (1:1:1) showed the least colony-forming units. The present study is an in vitro study, in which we concluded that the combination of all the intracanal medicaments is the best for the elimination of E. faecalis biofilm from the root canal. The above findings need to be tested in vivo also.