Effects of different antibacterial agents on enamel in a biofilm caries model

WOS: 000366949200012PubMed ID: 26666861Using a mature biofilm model, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of different antibacterial agents in comparison with silver diamine fluoride (SDF). Forty-eight saliva-coated enamel slabs were inoculated with Streptococcus mutans monospecies biofilm. The biofilms were then exposed to 10% sucrose in tryptone yeast-extract culture medium, 8 times per day for 7 days. After the biofilm growth period, the enamel slabs were treated with one of the following substances: 1) distilled water; 2) SDF; 3) acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF); 4) ammonium hexafluorosilicate (AHF); 5) ammonium hexafluorosilicate + cetylpyridinium chloride (AHF+CPC); or 6) 0.2% chlorhexidine (CHX). After these treatment procedures, the samples were incubated at 37 degrees C for 2 days, and the numbers of viable microorganisms in the biofilms were counted. The number of viable bacteria was significantly reduced by all of the antibacterial agents (P < 0.05). However, SDF showed the highest antibacterial activity (P < 0.05), and the effectiveness of the other agents was lower (P < 0.05). SDF has a highly effective antibacterial action against cariogenic Streptococcus mutans biofilm; none of the other fluoride agents used in this study, or 0.2 CHX agent, showed an antibacterial effect comparable to that of SDF.Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK)Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [213S108]This study received support from the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) (Project No. 213S108)