IN-VITRO BACTERIAL ADHERENCE ONTO PELLICLE-COATED AESTHETIC RESTORATIVE MATERIALS

Adhesion of oral bacteria to teeth and restorative materials plays an important role in the pathogenesis of oral diseases. This study invest igated the initial adhesion of Streptococcus mutans to enamel and rest orative materials. Three types of composites and two types of glass io nomer cements were used. The specimens were coated with freshly collec ted human parotid saliva. The salivary coated samples were incubated w ith cell-free glucosyltransferase, and further incubated with sucrose solution. Finally, the specimens were incubated with H-3-thymidine lab elled bacteria. Adhesion of the bacteria to the specimens was measured by scintillation counter. SEM observations were performed on each sam ple. The results showed no significant differences among the materials and the control. These findings can be explained by the pellicle whic h coated all the specimens. This biofilm, to which the bacteria were a dhered and proved to probably masked existing surface properties of th e specimens resulting in similar bacterial adhesion.