Comparative evaluation of antibacterial efficacy of conventional glass-ionomer cement and bulk-fill alkasite material when combined with doxycycline and double antibiotic paste containing ciprofloxacin and metronidazole against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus spp.: An in vitro study.

Abstract

Glass-ionomer cement (GIC) have been indispensable to pediatric dentistry. Along with these, newer materials like bulk-fill alkasite cement (Cention N) are popularizing. In spite of this, the search is still on for the "ideal" bioactive material which could provide a therapeutic edge. In light of this, incorporation of antibiotics in GIC or newer materials like bulk-fill alkasite cement (Cention N) would provide a novel alternative material to the dentists. The study was aimed at comparing the antibacterial efficacy of conventional glass-ionomer cement (CGIC) and bulk-fill alkasite cement (Cention N) with doxycycline (DOX) and double antibiotic paste (DAP) containing metronidazole and ciprofloxacin (1.5% w/w) on Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus. Agar well diffusion method was followed, in which material discs of 10 mm were made and inserted into the wells. Inhibition zones were calculated after incubation for 24 h at 37°C with zone interpretation scale. A highly significant statistical correlation was found between antibacterial efficacy of the control groups (CGIC and bulk-fill alkasite cement [Cention N]) without antibiotics as compared to the experimental group (CGIC and bulk-fill alkasite cement [Cention N] with DOX and DAP), P = 0.0001 and P = 0.0006 for the CGIC group and P = 0.0147 and P = 0.0080 for the Cention N group (P < 0.05). Incorporation of antibiotics significantly enhanced the antibacterial efficacy of CGIC and bulk-fill alkasite cement (Cention N).