Antibacterial Activity of Provisional Luting Agents using Direct Contact Test

Objective: The purposes of this in vitro study were to evaluate the antibacterial properties of different contemporary provisional luting agents and to compare their antibacterial action during and after setting using the direct-contact test (DCT). Methods: Seven agents having calcium hydroxide, eugenol, non-eugenol and resin based were selected for this evaluation as follows; Dycal (Dentsply, Germany), Provy (Dentsply, Germany), Cavex Temporary Cement (Cavex, Holland), Temp-Bond (Kerr, Switzerland), Temp-Bond NE (Kerr, Switzerland), Systemp.link (Ivoclar Vivadent, Liechtestein), Temp-Bond. Clear (Kerr, Switzerland). With the use of a fungus and two different bacteria; Candida albicans (ATCC 90028), Streptoccocus salivarius (RSHE 206) and Streptococcus mutans (NTCT 10449) direct contact test were performed. For this test, the materials were tested immediately after application to the microtiter wells (fresh samples) and after setting for 2 days (set samples; allowed to set in a 100% humid atmosphere at 37ºC for 2 days before testing). Ten microliters of bacterial suspension was added to each well for direct contact with each material for 2h at 37ºC. Growth of surviving bacteria was then measured in a microplate spectrophotometer hourly at 600 nm for 16 h. Bacteria and fungus exposed to uncoated wells served as control. Results: Fresh and set samples of all materials showed a 3-h delay in exponential growth of both C. albicans and S. salivarius and a 4-h delay in growth of S. mutans. When compared with the control group Dycal, Provy and Temp-Bond provisional cements demonstrated antibacterial properties even after setting, while Cavex temporary cements, Temp-Bond NE, Temp-Bond Clear and Systemp.link exhibited no antibacterial activity. Dycal when tested set showed better antibacterial properties compared with Provy and Temp-Bond. Conclusions: Choosing Dycal, Provy and Temp-Bond provisional luting agents might be better in protecting pulps of prepared teeth from bacterial ingress in clinical practice. 133815 modified by 193.255.251.11 on 2-1-2010-->