Comparative Evaluation of Microhardness and Solubility of Different Combinations of Antibiotic Powders Added to Glass Ionomer Cement: An In Vitro Study.

Abstract

The imbalance between remineralization and demineralization leads to the formation of secondary caries. Fluoride-releasing ability has been the characteristic property of glass ionomer cement (GIC), but it is uncertain if this property alone will be sufficient for the cessation of the growth of the organisms. Therefore, a restorative material with additional bacteriostatic properties needs to be introduced. To evaluate the microhardness and solubility of the conventional GIC after adding different combinations of antibiotic powders. In this study, the three groups were conventional GIC (group I), GIC + metronidazole + ciprofloxacin (group II), and GIC + metronidazole + amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (group III). The concentration of the double antibiotic combination was maintained at 1.5% w/w. The antibiotic powders were added to the GIC and evaluated for microhardness and solubility of the specimens. The mean microhardness level of group II was the highest, which was statistically significant using analysis of variance (ANOVA) with a p-value of 0.022. The comparison of each group's solubility in different solutions was not statistically significant. Along with the conventional properties of GIC, an additional therapeutic gain can also be obtained by incorporating various combinations of antibiotics, thereby arresting the progression of caries at the site of infection itself. This new approach shall help in community health programs, where treatment of a large population needs to be done within a short span of time and arrest the progression of caries activity in deep caries. Benson TL, Sogi S, Jain M, et al. Comparative Evaluation of Microhardness and Solubility of Different Combinations of Antibiotic Powders Added to Glass Ionomer Cement: An In Vitro Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(6):619-624.