Bacteriostatic effect of tetracycline in a temporary cement

Temporary crowns with subgingival margins can result in gingival inflammation. This inflammation is the result of plaque accumulating at the restoration-tooth interface and a change in the nature of that plaque to one associated with periodontitis. It was postulated that tetracycline incorporated in a slightly soluble cement would be released in the sulcus and decrease the amount, and improve the quality, of the subgingival microflora. The unknown was whether tetracycline is inactivated by any of the components of the temporary cement Temp Bond. To determine this concern, disks of Temp Bond cement with and without varying concentrations of tetracycline were anaerobically incubated in cultures of Bacteroides gingivalis. Results showed that tetracycline incorporated in Temp Bond at 10% by weight is highly bacteriostatic while retaining typical working properties of the cement.