In situ bacterial accumulation on dental restorative materials. CLSM/COMSTAT analysis

To evaluate the influence of different restorative materials on the biofilm structure accumulated in situ.

15 discs of each material (ceramic; resin composite; resin-modified and conventional glass-ionomers; amalgam) were adapted to palatal devices in order to accumulate biofilm in situ, under a cariogenic challenge (20% sucrose solution, 10x/day). After 7 days, the specimens were carefully removed and visualized by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The images were analyzed qualitatively (descriptive analysis about cell viability and architecture) and quantitatively using COMSTAT software (area, bio-volume, mean thickness, maximum thickness and roughness coefficient of the biofilm). The statistical analysis was performed by using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Kruskal-Wallis tests (P ≤ 5%).

The medians of the biofilm parameters analyzed showed no statistical difference regarding different materials. However, qualitatively, glass-ionomer cements and amalgam showed visually a prevalence of non-viable cells forming small clusters distributed by the biofilm, and voids were presented in smaller proportion in the biofilm volume compared to composite and ceramic.