Antibacterial and mechanical properties of propolis added to glass ionomer cement.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether adding ethanolic extracts of propolis (EEP) might influence the antibacterial and mechanical (shear-peel band strength [SPBS]) properties of conventional glass ionomer cement (GIC) used in orthodontic band cementation.


METHODS
The cement was divided into four groups: one using the original composition and three with 10%, 25%, and 50% EEP added to the liquid and then manipulated. An antimicrobial assay, broth-dilution method was used to determine the antibacterial capacity of the GIC containing EEP. Eighty teeth were used for the mechanical assay, and an Instron testing machine was used to evaluate the SPBS. Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for statistical analyses.


RESULTS
GIC with the addition of 25% and 50% EEP activated inhibition of Streptococcus mutans (ATCC 25175) growth, but this effect did not occur in the group to which 10% EEP was added or in the control GIC group. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of SPBS (P > .05).


CONCLUSIONS
The addition of EEP may increase antibacterial properties without negatively modifying the mechanical properties of conventional GIC.
a  Research Assistant, Inonu University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Orthodontics, Malatya, Turkey.
Erdem
E
Hatunoğlu
Fırat
F
Oztürk
Tuğça
T
Bilenler
Sertaç
S
Aksakallı
Neslihan
N
Simşek
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001641:Bicuspid; D002484:Cementation / Q000379:methods; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D016910:Orthodontic Brackets; D011429:Propolis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D033081:Shear Strength; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements; D012997:Solvents; D014867:Water; D000431:Ethanol; D011429:Propolis