Facial Silicone: Antimicrobial Activity of Disinfectant Solutions and Plant Extracts

Objectives: Infectious diseases in patients using prosthesis are commonly observed by dentists. This microbiota is a precursor to biofilm formation, especially when hygiene is deficient. The use of conventional disinfection protocols shows that the cleaning process is not always effective, and sometimes the properties of the materials used in maxillofacial prosthesis are altered. Thus, the search for new disinfection methods using plant extracts is of importance. The present study aimed to evaluate and compare the antimicrobial activity of conventional disinfectant solutions (soap and water and 4% chlorhexidine) and plant extracts (Cymbopogon nardus and Hydrastis canadensis) on samples of MDX4-4210 facial silicone.
Methods: Seventy-two 2-mm thick specimens were prepared using facial silicone molded in a 5-mm circular metal matrix; 36 were contaminated with Candida albicans and 36 with Staphylococcus aureus to evaluate the antimicrobial activity as confirmed by scanning electron microscope analysis and measured by quantitative analysis of biofilm growth using the tetrazolium salt reduction method (XTT). The data from the cell viability test were assessed using the analysis of variance test and the means of repetitions of each group were evaluated using the Tukey’s test with a 95% confidence interval.
Results: Ten minutes in contact with the chlorhexidine, C. nardus and H. canadensis solutions was effective to disinfect silicone contaminated by the two microorganisms. Photo microscopy revealed that chlorhexidine and H. canadensis altered the surface of the silicone, whereas C. nardus had a lesser effect on the surface. Soap and water proved to be effective to remove the surface biofilm as shown by photo microscopy however, according to XTT analysis this procedure did not disinfect the silicone.
Conclusions: A combination of cleaning methods is necessary, because when combined, the adhered biofilm is removed and the disinfection of the material is improved. Plant extracts are promising prophylactic and disinfectant agents against bacterial and fungal organisms.