Pharmaceuticals (Nov 2021)

The Antibacterial and Remineralization Effect of Silver-Containing Mesoporous Bioactive Glass Sealing and Er-YAG Laser on Dentinal Tubules Treated in a <i>Streptococcus mutans</i> Cultivated Environment

  • Jung-Chang Kung,
  • Wei-Hsun Wang,
  • Yu-Ching Chiang,
  • Yuan-Ting Yang-Wang,
  • Yueh-Ching Wang,
  • Wen-Cheng Chen,
  • Chi-Jen Shih

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/ph14111124
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 11
p. 1124

Abstract

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the remineralization and antibacterial effect of silver-containing mesoporous bioactive glass (MBG-Ag) sealing combined with Er:YAG laser irradiation on human demineralized dentin specimens in a Streptococcus mutans cultivated environment. A total of 48 human dentin specimens were randomly divided into four groups. The characteristics of MBG-Ag and the occlusion efficiency of the dentinal tubules were analyzed using X-ray diffraction patterns, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope images and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Moreover, the antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans was evaluated by colony formation assay. The results showed that the dentin specimens with Er:YAG laser irradiation can form a melted occlusion with a size of 3–4 µm. MBG-Ag promoted the deposition of numerous crystal particles on the dentinal surface, reaching the deepest penetration depth of 70 μm. The results suggested that both MBG-Ag and laser have the ability to enhance the remineralization and precipitation of hydroxyapatite crystals. While the results showed that MBG-Ag sealing combined with the thermomechanical subablation mode of Er:YAG laser irradiation-induced dense crystalline deposition, reaching a penetration depth of more than 300 µm, silver nanoparticles without good absorption of the Er:YAG laser resulted in a heterogeneous radiated surface. Er:YAG laser irradiation with a low energy and pulse rate cannot completely inhibit the growth of S. mutans, but MBG-Ag sealing reached the bactericidal concentration. It was concluded that the simultaneous application of MBG-Ag sealing and Er:YAG laser treatment can prevent the drawbacks of their independent uses, resulting in a superior form of treatment for dentin hypersensitivity.

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