Investigating the antibacterial effect of chitosan in dental resin composites: a pilot study

The tendency of [resin-based composites] RBCs to allow more plaque formation results in secondary caries. Chitosan [CS] inhibits the growth of Streptococcus mutans [S.mutans]; which is most frequently caries causing bacteria. Therefore, CS was incorporated into RBCs to determine its in vitro antibacterial activity against S.mutans. CS was added to flowable and microhybrid RBCs at various concentrations of 0 [control] 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0% by weight. Five disc shaped specimens [15mm diameter, 2mm thickness] were prepared for each experimental and control group. Interaction of cured chitosan modified RBCs with S. mutans biofilms was evaluated using agar diffusion test method. The results of ADT were negative. The experimental RBCs containing CS did not show growth inhibition zone around lawn growth of S.mutans compared to control group. Further experiments are in progress to determine CS modified RBCs antibacterial efficacy by direct contact test. Within the limitations of this study Antibacterial activity of CS modified RBCs is comparable to that of commercial RBCs when evaluated by agar diffusion test method