A traditional way to combat against Streptococcus mutans

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate and compare the antimicrobial activity of conventional Glass ionomer cement, Glass ionomer cement (GIC) with 0.1% (w/w) epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and Glass ionomer cement with 1% (w/w) Curcuma longa against streptococcus mutans.Methods: Children of age group 5-9 years, irrespective of sex, race and socioeconomic status with at least 3 cavitated dentinal lesions in primary molars clinically involving occlusal surface suitable for ART were selected.The dentinal samples were collected three times from each carious tooth, viz. baseline (before excavation of caries), after hand excavation of caries and after 7 days of restoration. The dentinal samples were subjected to microbiological evaluation for Streptococcus mutans count.Results: Experimental groups (Group II and group III) showed statistically significant reduction in Streptococcus mutans counts compared to control group (Conventional Glass ionomer cement). Group II i.e. (Glass ionomer cement with 0.1% (w/w) EGCG) showed significant reduction than Group III i.e. (Glass ionomer cement with 1% (w/w) Curcuma longa).Conclusion: ART technique was successful in reducing the streptococcus mutans load in a carious cavity but significant numbers of residual microbes were still found to be present even after the carious tissue was removed. Restoration of the cavity using EGCG and turmeric modified GIC was able to markedly reduce the S.mutans counts compared to conventional GIC.Â