A triclosan-containing compomer reduces Lactobacillus spp. predominant in advanced carious lesions.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the antimicrobial effect of acid etching or a triclosan-containing compomer on the cultivable microflora of incompletely excavated dentinal carious lesions.


METHODS
Thirty detinal lesions were opened with a diamond burr. Subsequent to removal of the softened biomass a sample of dentin was taken from the cavity floor with a round bur. Ten cavities each were treated with 36% phosphoric acid (PH) for 15s, covered with a triclosan-containing compomer (TC) or received no treatment as control (CO). All lesions were restored with a compomer composite. Sampling was performed directly after etching in the PH group and at re-entry after 6 weeks in all groups. Aliquots were plated on blood agar and selective media for Lactobacilli (Rogosa) and mutans Streptococci (MSB). Cultures were incubated anaerobically for 7 days at 37 degrees C prior to quantitative assessment and biotyping of the isolates.


RESULTS
Application of phosphoric acid resulted in initial reduction of the totally cultivable microflora (p=0.006). Evaluation of the total number of cultivable microflora after 6 weeks revealed no differences between the groups (p>0.05). Lactobacilli counts were significantly lower in the TC group compared to the PH and CO groups (p<0.05). No difference was detected between the PH and CO groups after 6 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
Phosphoric acid initially reduces the number of microorganisms in carious dentin but not in the longer term. The experimental triclosan composite suppresses Lactobacilli species over a period of 6 weeks.
Wicht
Michael J
MJ
Center of Dental Medicine, Policlinic of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 32, D-50931 Köln, Germany. michael.wicht@medizin.uni-koeln.de
Haak
Rainer
R
Kneist
Susanne
S
Noack
Michael J
MJ
D000134:Acid Etching, Dental; D000190:Actinomyces / Q000187:drug effects; D000328:Adult; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D020770:Compomers / Q000737:chemistry; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D003804:Dentin / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D010756:Phosphoric Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000187:drug effects; D014260:Triclosan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D020770:Compomers; D003188:Composite Resins; C088486:Dyract; D010756:Phosphoric Acids; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids; C425843:Prime and Bond NT; D014260:Triclosan; C030242:phosphoric acid