Antibacterial Activity of Triclosan Incorporated Glass Ionomer Cements – An in vitro Pilot Study

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of glass ionomer cement impregnated with different concentrations (0.5%, 1.25% and 2.5%) of a non releasing bactericide –Triclosan (TC) against two common cariogenic bacteria – Lactobacillus acidophilus and Streptococcus mutans; and to compare Triclosan incorporated GIC with chlorhexidine (CHX) incorporated GIC (2.5%)in terms of antibacterial activity. Methods: Chlorhexidine or Triclosan were added to glass ionomer cement powder to achieve 2.5% CHX – GIC (positive control – Group II), 0.5%, 1.25% and 2.5% TC-GIC (experimental groups III, IV and V respectively) formulations. Restorative glass ionomer cement (Fuji IX GC –Group I) served as negative control. The powder and liquid were mixed and inserted into the wells punched in agar plates (10mm × 4mm). The agar diffusion method was used to determine the antibacterial activity of the cements after 1, 7 and 30 days. Mean values were compared between different study groups using One-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD procedure at a significance level of 5%. Results: Triclosan incorporated GIC was more effective against L.acidophilus and S.mutans than Chlorhexidine incorporated GIC. Triclosan at a concentration of 2.5% was more effective than at lower concentrations. At all time periods studied, the maximum zone of inhibition against L.acidophilus was produced by Group V. Against S.mutans, on days 1,7 and 30, there was no significant difference between Groups II and IV (p>0.05), while the other groups showed significant differences. Conclusion: The use of triclosan as an antibacterial additive in GIC holds promise and further clinical research is needed in this direction.