Abstract: Bacteria and their by-products are one of the most important causes for pulpal and periapical diseases, and root canal treatment is currently the most effective solution for their treatment. The main reason of the failure of root canal treatment is the occurrence of reinfection within the root canal system, and Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) is one of the major pathogens. The antibacterial effect of endodontic sealers plays an important role in preventing reinfection to the root canal system, which can improve the long-term success rate of root canal treatment. Presently, various of endodontic sealers are available clinically, and the objective of this review was to summarize the antibacterial effects of different endodontic sealers on E. faecalis, which will provide significant evidence for the clinical application of endodontic sealers in root canal treatment.

Key words: endodontic sealer, Enterococcus faecalis, antibacterial effect, research progress