Antimicrobial efficacy and irrigating potential of irrigation solutions using different activation methods.

The objective of this in vitro study was to establish the antimicrobial efficacy and the effect of different activation methods on the smear layer at the coronal level of straight root canals of four different root canal irrigation solutions. The four irrigation solutions were 3.5% sodium hypochlorite liquid (NaOCl), 2% sodium hypochlorite gel, chlorhexidine gluconate liquid and a mixture of 100 mg doxycycline capsules with 2 ml sterile water. ANTIMICROBIAL EFFECTS: The surfaces of four agar plates were inoculated with Enterococcus faecalis and divided into four equal quadrants. Ten microlitres of each test solution was dispensed onto the four filter paper disks on each agar plate. The antibacterial activity of materials was apparent from circular clear inhibition zones forming around the filtration paper. The diameters of these inhibition zones were measured using a micrometer gauge. EFFECT ON SMEAR LAYER: Access cavities were prepared on fifty, extracted, single rooted, human teeth and the root canals prepared with rotary files. The teeth were randomly divided into five groups (n = 10) and each group irrigated with a different irrigation solution. Different activation methods were used in the coronal portion of each root canal. The solutions were activated in the canals using one of the following methods: a 30 gauge needle (Control), a sonic scaler tip, and a rotary brush. After sampling, the roots of the treated teeth were fractured and prepared for Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) according to standard methods. The one-way ANOVA test was used to determine whether there were any statistical significant differences between the different groups. The average zones of inhibition for 3.5% NaOCl, 2% NaOCl, 2.5% chlorhexidine and doxycycline were 2.7mm, 2.0 mm, 11.2 mm and 12.4 mm respectively. Sterile water, 3.5% NaOCl and 2% NaOCl had no significant effect on the smear layer. However, when chlorhexidine and doxycycline solutions were activated with a rotary brush, 90 and 80 per cent of the observed surfaces were free of smear layer respectively. Doxycyline and 2.5% chlorhexidine demonstrated the highest antimicrobial activity against Enterococcus faecalis and removed most of the smear layer when the solutions were activated with a rotary brush.

Antibacterial properties of five bonding agents.

PURPOSE: This study compared antibacterial properties of five bonding agents with that of a control, Chlorhexidine (2.5%). Products evaluated were the self-etch primers (-P) and adhesives (-A) of Clearfil SE Bond (SE-P; SE-A) [Kuraray Dental], Clearfil Protect Bond (PB-P; PB-A) [Kuraray Dental], Optibond Solo Self-etch (OS-P; OS-A) [Kerr] and the one-bottle products, self-etch Clearfil Tri-S Bond (3S) [Kuraray Dental] and total-etch Adper Scotchbond 1 XT (XT) [3M ESPE]. METHODS: Spread plates of three different bacteria (Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus paracasei and Actinomyces naeslundii) were prepared on Casein-peptone-Soymeal-peptone Agar (CASO-Agar). Controls, Primers, Adhesives, and Primer & Adhesive combinations were placed on standardized, sterilized filtration paper or composite disks and then placed on the inoculated agar and incubated at 37 degrees C for 48 hours. Inhibition zones were measured and data was statistically analyzed using the Student t-test. An additional test was performed by which growth inhibiting of 1/10 and 1/100 dilutions of the test suspensions were measured spectrophotometrically as turbidity at 600 nm and expressed as percentage growth (%). RESULTS: Compared to the controls, the only cured product which produced significant inhibition was Scotchbond 1 XT (XT), and that for Actinomyces naeslundii only. The primer of Clearfil Protect Bond (PB-P) showed statistically significant growth inhibition for all three test bacteria, the primer of SE Bond (SE-P) had significant inhibitive properties against Streptoccocus mutans and Actinomyces naeslundii and the primer of Optibond Solo Self-etch (OS-P) inhibited growth of Actinomyces naeslundii significantly. CONCLUSIONS: The primers of Clearfil Protect Bond, Clearfil SE Bond, Optibond Solo Self-etch and the product Adper Scotchbond 1 XT may be beneficial in eliminating remaining bacteria after cavity preparation, but further research on a possible long-term antibacterial benefit of these products needs to be undertaken.

Effect of biological contamination on dentine bond strength of adhesive resins.

The purpose of this in vitro study was to determine the effect of saliva (S) and blood (B) contamination on the dentine bond strength of two single-component dentine bonding systems. The occlusal thirds of 120 recently extracted, human molars were removed with a low speed saw and subsequently embedded in Bencor rings by means of self-curing, acrylic resin. The occlusal surfaces were ground wet on 600-grit silicone carbide paper in a polishing machine to expose superficial dentine and to create a smear layer. The teeth were randomly divided into 12 groups (n = 10). All the dentine surfaces were etched with 34% phosphoric acid for 15 seconds rinsed with water, air-dried for 3 seconds, leaving the surfaces visibly moist. For the control groups (C) the etched dentine surfaces were treated with either, Scotchbond 1 (SB1, 3M) or Prime & Bond NT (PBNT, Dentsply) according to the manufacturer's instructions. In the contaminated groups, the saliva or blood was applied by means of a disposable brush, left undisturbed for 1 minute, and the excess then thinned by air spray. The dentine bonding systems were then applied, also according to manufacturer's instructions. Composite (Z250 and TPH) and Compomer (F2000 and Dyract AP (D-AP)) stubs were packed and cured incrementally to the corresponding pretreated dentine surfaces. All specimens were stored for 24 hours under water at 37 degrees C. The bonds were then stressed to failure with a Zwick testing machine, operating at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. Fractured samples were examined in a Scanning Electron Microscope. The data were statistically analysed (Student-t test). The mean SBS (MPa) were. SB1 with Z250: C = 19.1 +/- 4.4; S = 17.3 +/- 3.5; B = 2.6 +/- 0.9; SB1 with F2000: C = 11.8 +/- 3.3; S = 9.7 +/- 1.8; B = 4.7 +/- 1.6. PBNT with TPH: C = 9.2 +/- 3.2; S = 6.5 +/- 3.0; B = 4.3 +/- 1.5; PBNT with D-AP: C = 10.2 +/- 3.6; S = 9.3 +/- 2.9 and B = 7.3 +/- 2.5. There was no statistical significant difference in shear bond strengths between the control and the saliva-contaminated samples for both systems. There was, however, a significant difference in bond strengths between the control and the blood-contaminated samples. Blood contamination negatively influenced bond strength of bonding systems to dentine.

Caries prediction factors in children with primary dentition.

Previous studies have indicated an association between the dmft and the lactobacilli counts in small children. This study evaluated and compared a number of salivary factors that could have an effect on caries progression in two groups of children with primary dentition (group 1 = 3-6 years; group II = 9 years). The average dmft score was higher for group II. The dmft score of group I consisted mainly of a large dt component, while in group II a large ft component was found. Lactobacilli were present in 44.83% of group I and in 77.27% of group II. Significant positive correlations were found for group I between the dt component of the dmft and lactobacilli count (P < 0.05, r = 0.48) as well as the total dmft and lactobacilli count (P < 0.05, r = 0.45). Significant positive correlations were found for group II between the dmft and lactobacilli count (P < 0.05, r = 0.39) and the plaque index and lactobacilli count (P < 0.05, r = 0.31). Significant correlations between the dmft and the prevalence of lactobacilli in the oral cavity were also indicated (group I: P < 0.05, r = 0.45; group II: P < 0.05, r = 0.36). Significant correlations confirmed the association of lactobacilli with the caries process and indicated the reliability of lactobacilli counts to determine caries activity. Correlations between the dmft and the prevalence of lactobacilli in the oral cavity indicated the possibility of an excellent but simple test for the prediction of caries susceptibility in children.

Laboratory analysis of fluoride containing toothpaste available in South Africa.

Since the introduction of fluoridated toothpaste more than 30 years ago, it has become by far the most widespread source of fluoride in the world and after fluoridated water the most effective at reducing dental caries. Both the total soluble and the soluble ionic fluoride present in toothpaste are important in determining the effectiveness of the paste as it is important in remineralising demineralised lesions, a characteristic of fluoride which has proven to be the most important in preventing dental caries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate toothpaste currently available to the South African public regarding total soluble and soluble ionic fluoride. A variation of the method used by Grobler et al. (1983) and Du Preez et al. (1993) in previous studies conducted in South Africa was used in preparing the samples for fluoride analysis. Measurements of fluoride concentrations were done using an ionselective electrode. For all toothpaste studied (n=62), large variations occurred for the soluble ionic fluoride (mean = 318.44 microg F/g toothpaste; median = 139.69; standard deviation = 398.77). Correspondingly a mean total soluble fluoride of 848.84 microg F/g toothpaste was found (standard deviation = 189.35; median = 857.38). From this study it can be concluded that fluoride concentrations in toothpaste available to the South African public are in line with those found in the two previous South African studies. In the absence of artificially fluoridated water, toothpaste remains the most cost-effective strategy in the prevention of dental caries in South Africa.

Lactobacillus species associated with active caries lesions.

Lactobacilli that are most frequently associated with active caries lesions in dentine were isolated and identified as part of a research project which aims to determine the role of the predominant species of these organisms in the carious process. Samples of carious dentine were collected from 12 patients with open caries lesions (Group A) and stimulated saliva samples were collected from 12 patients with a DMFT = 0 and confirmed presence of lactobacilli in the oral cavity (Group B). After serial dilutions samples were plated on Rogosa agar and incubated anaerobically at 37 degrees C for 48 hours. Representative colonies were isolated from each sample, using Harrison's disc and species were identified by classical taxonomy. A total of 153 isolates were identified. The redefinition and description of lactobacilli species in recent systematic literature resulted in a new and different species composition of oral lactobacilli as shown in this study, namely: homofermentative species (Group A = 82 per cent; Group B = 90 per cent) were predominantly Lactobacillus paracasei (Group A = 39 per cent; Group B = 30 percent) and Lactobacillus rhamnosus (Group A = 31 per cent; Group B = 41 per cent). Heterofermentative species (Group A = 18 per cent; Group B = 10 per cent) were predominantly Lactobacillus fermentum (Group A = 68 per cent; Group B = 100 percent).