Bacteriology of deep carious lesions underneath amalgam restorations with different pulp-capping materials--an in vivo analysis.
Microorganisms remaining in dentin following cavity preparation may induce pulp damage, requiring the use of pulp-capping agents with antimicrobial activity underneath permanent restorations.


OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study were to analyze the bacteriological status of carious dentin and to assess the efficacy of different base underneath silver amalgam restorations.


METHODS
This study was conducted on 50 patients aged 13 to 30 years. Sterile swabs were used to take samples after cavity preparation, which was assessed by microbiological culture to identify the microorganisms present. Following this, cavities were restored with silver amalgam, using one of the materials being investigated, as the base: calcium hydroxide (Group II), polyantibiotic paste (Group III), a novel light-cured fluoride-releasing hydroxyapatite-based liner (Group IV) and mineral trioxide aggregate--MTA (Group V). In Group I, the cavities were restored with silver amalgam, without any base. After 3 months, the amalgam was removed and samples taken again and analyzed for the microbial flora.


RESULTS
Lactobacilli were the most commonly isolated microorganisms in the samples of carious dentin. Groups IV and V showed negative culture in the 3-month samples. There was no statistically significant difference between Groups I, II and III. There was no significant difference between Groups IV and V (p>0.05). Both Groups IV and V showed significantly better results when compared to Groups I, II and III (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The hydroxyapatite-based liner and MTA performed significantly better in terms of antibacterial activity than the other materials.
Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha University, Chennai, India. prasu_endo@yahoo.com
Prasanna
P
Neelakantan
Chandragiri Venkata Subba
CV
Rao
Jamuna
J
Indramohan
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017607:Aluminum Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000494:pharmacology; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000494:pharmacology; D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D003723:Dental Amalgam / Q000737:chemistry*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000187:drug effects; D003785:Dental Pulp Capping; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D003804:Dentin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D017886:Durapatite / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010087:Oxides / Q000494:pharmacology; D057872:Pulp Capping and Pulpectomy Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017640:Silicates / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001843:Bone Cements; D017610:Calcium Compounds; D004338:Drug Combinations; D010087:Oxides; D057872:Pulp Capping and Pulpectomy Agents; D017640:Silicates; C086631:mineral trioxide aggregate; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D017886:Durapatite; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide