Anti-bacterial efficacy of the elements of amalgam restoration- An in vitro study

Abstract

The interaction between bacteria and solid surfaces often results in the attachment and subsequent proliferation of the microorganisms, culminating in a well-defined biofilm. Restorative materials with long lasting antibacterial surface properties may reduce the biofilm and thus disease recurrence. Dental amalgams are widely used as filling materials in restorative dentistry. This study was done to evaluate and compare the in vitro antibacterial activity of different elements in an amalgam restoration against S. mutans which is an important cariogenic bacteria present in dental plaque. Each test materials were placed in an eppendorf tube and the materials were placed until the standardized marking. Direct contact test was done to evaluate the bacterial colonies. After incubation, the bacterial colonies were counted from the plates using digital colony counter and the CFU/ml was calculated based on the dilutions performed. The results concluded that silver has a superior antibacterial activity compared to other metals.