Antibacterial effect of Taurolidin (2%) on established dental plaque biofilm

Objectives: It was the aim of the present study to examine the antibacterial effect of a 2% Taurolidin solution on the supragingival plaque biofilm using the vital fluorescence technique and to compare it with the effect of saline and chlorhexidine. Methods: 18 subjects had to refrain from all mechanical and chemical hygiene measures for 24 hours. A voluminous supragingival plaque sample was taken from the buccal surfaces of the lower molars and wiped on an objective slide. The sample was then divided into 3 equal parts and mounted with one of the 3 test or control preparations (A) NaCl, (B) taurolidin 2%, (C) chlorhexidine 0.2% (CHX). After a reaction time of 2 minutes the test solutions were sucked off. Subsequently, the plaque biofilm was stained with fluorescence dye. The vitality of the plaque flora after the treatments was evaluated under the fluorescence microscope (VF%). Results: Plaque samples treated with saline showed a mean vitality of 82.42±6.04%. Taurolidin could affect percentage of vital flora with 47.57±16.60% significantly (p<0.001, paired t-test). The positive control CHX showed the lowest VF values (34.41±14.79%; p<0.001 compared to NaCl, p=0.017 compared to taurolidin). Conclusion: Taurolidin showed a significant antibacterial effect on the vital flora of the supragingival plaque which was however not as pronounced as CHX.