Čes. stomatol. Prakt. zub. lék. (Czech Dental Journal) 2026; 126(1): 5-15 | DOI: 10.51479/cspzl.2025.009

EVALUATION OF THE ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES OF SELECTED NEW RESIN-MODIFIED MATERIALS USED IN VITAL PULP THERAPY: AN IN VITRO STUDY

Novotná B.^{1, 2}, Holík P.^{1, 2}, Morozova Y.^{1, 2}, Somolová L.^{1, 2}, Rosa M.^{1, 2}, Svobodová L.^{3, 4}

¹ Klinika zubního lékařství, Lékařská fakulta Univerzity Palackého v Olomouci

² Klinika zubního lékařství, Fakultní nemocnice Olomouc

³ Ústav mikrobiologie, Lékařská fakulta Univerzity Palackého v Olomouci

⁴ Ústav mikrobiologie, Fakultní nemocnice Olomouc

Introduction and aim: In the case of deep carious lesions, the preference for the selective excavation method has been increasing. It can be assumed that a small number of microorganisms persist in the soft dentin near the dental pulp. For this reason, it is recommendable to use a filling material with an antimicrobial effect. The aim of this in vitro study is to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of selected resin-modified calcium silicate (TheraCal LC, TheraCal PT) and calcium phosphate (ApaCal ART) cements, and to compare them with the reference material (Biodentine).

Methods: Four groups of microorganisms were selected for this in vitro study: 1. viridans streptococci, 2. Lactobacillus spp., 3. Enterococcus faecalis, and 4. Candida albicans. The antimicrobial effects of the materials were evaluated by measuring the width of the growth inhibition zone using the agar diffusion test. Subsequently, statistical analysis of the obtained data was performed. All these tests were conducted at the 0.05 significance level.

Results: Biodentine was verified to have antimicrobial activity against all selected microorganisms. ApaCal ART showed a low effect only against viridans streptococci, TheraCal PT showed similar activity, but additionally inhibited the growth of Lactobacillus spp. However, TheraCal LC showed antimicrobial effects against all tested microorganisms. In addition, for Enterococcus faecalis, Candida albicans, and Lactobacillus spp., the results were not statistically significantly different from those of the reference material.

Conclusion: Resin-modified calcium silicate and calcium phosphate materials generally have lower antimicrobial potential than traditional calcium silicate cements. However, it is important to note that their activity varies among products. Of the materials tested in this in vitro study, TheraCal LC achieved the best results, similar to the reference cement.

Keywords: deep carious lesion, indirect pulp capping, calcium silicate cement, calcium phosphate cement

Received: June 3, 2025; Revised: September 4, 2025; Accepted: September 7, 2025; Prepublished online: February 24, 2026; Published: March 9, 2026  Show citation