Antibacterial activity, fluoride release, and physical properties of an antibiotic-modified glass ionomer cement

This study's purpose was to examine the influence of adding an antibiotic mixture to conventional glass ionomer cement (GIC) on its antibacterial activity, fluoride-releasing ability, and physical properties.

An antibiotic mixture containing ciprofloxacin and metronidazole was added to GIC at concentration ratios of one percent weight antibiotic/weight total powder before mixing (w/w; Group 1) and two percent w/w (Group 2) to obtain the test groups. Conventional GIC served as the control. The antibacterial activity of the cement specimens was evaluated against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus casei using the agar inhibition test. The fluoride release from the cement specimens was evaluated using a fluoride ion selective electrode. The physical parameters evaluated were net setting time, compressive strength, shear bond strength, and microleakage.

Group 2 showed a significantly greater inhibition zone than Group 1 against both tested organisms, while the control did not inhibit organism growth. The addition of antibiotics at one percent and two percent to GIC enhanced its fluoride release. At two percent, however, the physical properties of GIC were adversely affected.

Antibiotics at one percent weight solute/weight total solution after mixing may modestly confer an antibacterial activity to glass ionomer cement and enhance its fluoride-releasing ability. Its effects on shear bond strength and microleakage were found to be encouraging.