EFFECTS OF VARIOUS RESIN COMPOSITE (CO)MONOMERS AND EXTRACTS ON 2 CARIES-ASSOCIATED MICROORGANISMS IN-VITRO

Previous studies have shown that extracts of various filling materials , e.g., resin composites, may influence the growth of cariogenic micro -organisms. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of im portant resin composite (co)monomers (Bis-GMA, UDMA, TEGDMA, EGDMA) an d extracts of two commercial dental composites with similar compositio n (composite A, Arabesk(TM); composite S, Superlux(TM)) on the growth of the two cariogenic bacterial pathogens Streptococcus sobrinus and L actobacillus acidophilus.? It was found that neither the monomers Bis- GMA and UDMA, nor the comonomer EGDMA, nor the extract of composite A influenced the growth of S, sobrinus in the log phase. The comonomer T EGDMA and the extract of composite S were found to stimulate growth in the log phase, but this stimulation was not statistically significant . However, EGDMA, TEGDMA, and the extract of composite S did stimulate the total growth of S. sobrinus. In the assays with L., acidophilus, Bis-GMA, UDMA, and the extract of composite A inhibited the growth in the log phase, whereas TEGDMA stimulated it. Furthermore, EGDMA, TEGDM A, and the extract of composite S stimulated the biomass production of L., acidophilus. We conclude from our results that a release of EGDMA and TEGDMA from resin composites should be avoided due to their growt h-stimulating effects on the caries-associated micro-organisms S. sobr inus and L. acidophilus.