Purpose To test the hypothesis that surface roughening and polishing of ceramics have no effect on their surface roughness and biofilm adhesion. Materials and methods Feldspathic ceramic Vitablocks™ TriLuxe forte (VTF), lithium disilicate glass IPS e.max Press™ (IPS) and zirconia reinforced lithium silicate Vita Suprinity™ (VS) ceramic blocks (n = 27 per group) were prepared from sintered CAD blocks using a water‐cooled saw. They were further subdivided into 3 subgroups according to the surface treatment protocols (n = 9): as prepared, roughened and polished. The surface roughness of the ceramic blocks was measured using an electro‐mechanical profilometer. The ceramic sections were inoculated with Streptococcus mutans and incubated for 48 hours to form a biofilm. The ceramic surfaces with the biofilms were analyzed using Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy to calculate the percentage of live bacteria and substratum coverage by the biofilm, and further visualized using scanning electron microscopy. Statistical analysis was done with SPSS software using two‐way ANOVA, followed by post hoc Bonferroni test to identify significant differences between the groups. The level of significance was set at p = 0.05. Results As prepared VTF showed significantly higher mean surface roughness values than as prepared IPS and VS. The mean percentage of live bacteria and biofilm coverage of the substrate were significantly higher in the roughened ceramic blocks than the as prepared and polished blocks for all three ceramic types (p < 0.05). Polished specimens of VS significantly lower percentage of biofilm coverage than the other groups (p < 0.05). Conclusions This study sheds new light that adjustments of ceramic restorations prior to cementation increases the likelihood for formation and adhesion of microbial biofilms on the surface. Polished zirconia reinforced lithium disilicate ceramics demonstrated the lowest bacterial adhesion among the evaluated ceramics.

Enterococcus faecalis is a biofilm-forming, nosocomial pathogen that is frequently isolated from failed root canal treatments. Contemporary root canal disinfectants are ineffective in eliminating these biofilms and preventing reinfection. As a result, there is a pressing need to identify novel and safe antibiofilm molecules. The effect of short-term (5 and 15 min) and long-term (24 h) treatments of TC on the viability of E. faecalis biofilms was compared with currently used root canal disinfectants. Treatment for 15 min with TC reduced biofilm metabolic activity as effective as 1% sodium hypochlorite and 2% chlorhexidine. Treatment with TC for 24 h was significantly more effective than 2% chlorhexidine in reducing the viable cell counts of biofilms. This serendipitous effect of TC was sustained for 10 days under growthfavoring conditions. For the first time, our study highlights the strong antibacterial activity of TC against E. faecalis biofilms, and notably, its ability to prevent biofilm recovery after treatment.

Aim To investigate the null hypothesis that neither the surface conditioning (collagen, serum, saliva) of hydroxyapatite (HA) discs, nor the biofilm age (3 days vs. 21 days) has a significant effect on the cellular and matrix composition of biofilms, using Enterococcus faecalis as the model organism. Methodology Sterile HA discs were conditioned with collagen, saliva or serum, and inoculated with E. faecalis to form 3‐day and 21‐day‐old biofilms. Unconditioned discs served as controls. The biofilms were analysed using culture‐dependent and independent (confocal microscopy and biochemical analysis) methods, to determine the colony‐forming units and the biofilm matrix composition (polysaccharides and proteins), respectively. Statistical analyses were performed using appropriate parametric and nonparametric tests (P = 0.05). Results Collagen conditioning significantly increased the number of CFUs in the 21‐day biofilms, compared to the 3‐day biofilms (P < 0.05). Although the biochemical analysis revealed that surface conditioning had no significant effect on the total carbohydrate content in the 21‐day biofilms, confocal microscopic analysis revealed that collagen and saliva conditioning selectively increased the polysaccharide content of 21‐day biofilms, compared to the 3‐day biofilms (P < 0.05). Conclusions The results of this study raise an important methodological concern that the substrate conditioning substances and biofilm age differentially influence the cellular and extracellular matrix components of E. faecalis biofilms.

Enterococcus faecalis as an important nosocomial pathogen is critically implicated in the pathogenesis of endocarditis, urinary tract, and persistent root canal infections. Its major virulence attributes (biofilm formation, production of proteases, and hemolytic toxins) enable it to cause extensive host tissue damage. With the alarming increase in enterococcal resistance to antibiotics, novel therapeutics are required to inhibit E. faecalis biofilm formation and virulence. Trans-cinnamaldehyde (TC), the main phytochemical in cinnamon essential oils, has demonstrated promising activity against a wide range of pathogens. Here, we comprehensively investigated the effect of TC on planktonic growth, biofilm formation, proteolytic and hemolytic activities, as well as gene regulation in E. faecalis. Our findings revealed that sub-inhibitory concentrations of TC reduced biofilm formation, biofilm exopolysaccharides, as well as its proteolytic and hemolytic activities. Mechanistic studies revealed significant downregulation of the quorum sensing fsr locus and downstream gelE, which are major virulence regulators in E. faecalis. Taken together, our study highlights the potential of TC to inhibit E. faecalis biofilm formation and its virulence.