title: Viscoelastic properties and antimicrobial effects of soft liners with silver zeolite in complete dental prosthesis wearers: an in vivo study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to compare the viscoelastic properties and antimicrobial activity of a soft liner with and without silver zeolite for a period of 4 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty edentulous patients wearing complete dental prostheses were selected. A uniform space was created in the intaglio surface of their maxillary prosthesis, and a soft liner without silver zeolite (control material: S) was applied. After 28 days, the soft liner was replaced with new soft liner containing silver zeolite (test material: SZ) and worn for another period of 28 days. Viscoelastic analysis was conducted on the prostheses using S and SZ materials for newly formed samples (T0) and on samples collected after the 28-day period (T28). Culture tests were performed on both materials at T28. Statistical analysis was done using Student independent t test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The decrease in elasticity from T0 to T28 was found to be 76.49% and 79.11% and the decrease in viscosity was 76.49% and 80.3% for the S and SZ materials, respectively. Hence, the difference was not significant. The mean colony-forming units (CFUs) of Candida albicans and gram-negative bacteria in the S material at T28 days was 3,150 ± 1,251, whereas that of the SZ material was 1,084 ± 662. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean CFUs between the two groups (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The addition of silver zeolite to the soft liner improved the antimicrobial activity while not affecting significantly its viscoelastic properties.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saravanan
authors.forename: Anand
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: T V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Padmanabhan
authors.forename: Fathima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Banu
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D058491:Bacterial Load / Q000187:drug effects; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003819:Denture Bases; D003822:Denture Liners; D003827:Denture, Complete, Upper; D004548:Elasticity; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D014783:Viscosity; D017641:Zeolites / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D017641:Zeolites; D012834:Silver