title: Comparative evaluation of the antibacterial and physical properties of conventional glass ionomer cement containing chlorhexidine and antibiotics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy and compressive strength of conventional glass ionomer cement (GIC) containing chlorhexidine and antibiotics at varying concentrations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chlorhexidine diacetate and antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, metronidazole, and minocycline) were incorporated into GIC Fuji IX at 1.5% and 3% w/w ratio to form the experimental groups. The experimental GIC specimens were placed on brain heart infusion agar plates inoculated with Streptococcus mutans, and the area of inhibition was measured after 48 h. The 24-h compressive strength of the set specimens was evaluated using a Universal Testing Machine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The control group demonstrated no zone of inhibition. All experimental groups showed inhibition against S. mutans (P < 0.05), with larger zones of inhibition found in the higher concentration groups. Compressive strength at the end of 24 h decreased in the experimental groups as compared to the control group (P < 0.05), but no difference was found between the experimental groups (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study demonstrated that experimental GICs containing chlorhexidine diacetate and antibiotics were effective in inhibiting S. mutans, and incorporation of 1.5% ABX was optimal to give the appropriate antibacterial and physical properties.
authors: Department of Pedodontics, Himachal Dental College, Sunder Nagar, Himachal Pradesh, India.
authors: Sudhir
authors: S
authors: Mittal
authors: Department of Pedodontics, Himachal Dental College, Sunder Nagar, Himachal Pradesh, India.
authors: Heena
authors: H
authors: Soni
authors: Department of Microbiology, Himachal Dental College, Sunder Nagar, Himachal Pradesh, India.
authors: Devender Kumar
authors: DK
authors: Sharma
authors: Department of Pedodontics, Guru Nanak Dev Dental College and Research Institute, Sunam, Punjab, India.
authors: Kavita
authors: K
authors: Mittal
authors: Department of Pedodontics, Himachal Dental College, Sunder Nagar, Himachal Pradesh, India.
authors: Vasundhara
authors: V
authors: Pathania
authors: Department of Pedodontics, Himachal Dental College, Sunder Nagar, Himachal Pradesh, India.
authors: Samridhi
authors: S
authors: Sharma
keywords: Antibiotics; chlorhexidine diacetate; glass ionomer cement