Comparative Evaluation of Antibacterial Efficacy and Microhardness after Adding Different Combinations of Triple Antibiotic Powder in Conventional Restorative Glass Ionomer Cement

Abstract

Introduction: Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) use only hand instruments for caries removal therefore bacteria may remain and survive underneath these restorations. This problem can be solved if the restorative material also possesses antibacterial activity. Aim: To evaluate antibacterial efficacy and microhardness of different combinations of Triple Antibiotic Powder (TAP) mixed in Glass Ionomer Cement (GIC). Materials and Methods: This in-vitro study from December 2019 to February 2019 evaluated the antibacterial effect and microhardness of conventional GIC containing antibiotics in different combinations. Group I (only GIC), Group II (Ciprofloxacin+Metronidazole+Minocycline), Group III (Ciprofloxacin+Metronidazole+Cefaclor), Group IV (Ciprofloxacin+Metronidazole) were added to powdered GIC (FUJI IX) to obtain 1.5% w/w ratio. The antibacterial activity of set GIC discs was evaluated against Streptococcus mutans using agar-diffusion methods and microhardness was evaluated using vicker’s microhardness test. ANOVA with post-hoc Tukey multiple-range test was used to determine significant differences. Results: The results showed that antibacterial efficacy of Group III (GIC+TAP having Cefaclor) was increased and statistically significant (p<0.001) while the results of microhardness test of the same group were also higher. Conclusion: Current study shows, greater antibacterial and microhardness results with TAP containing cefaclor mixed in GIC.

Keywords

• atraumatic restorations
• physical strength
• streptococcus mutans