Effect of Bisphenol A Glycol Methacrylate on Virulent Properties of Streptococcus mutans UA159

Bisphenol A glycidyl methacrylate (bis-GMA), which is released into the oral environment by dental composites through incomplete polymerization, hydrolysis, and mechanical degradation, can significantly influence oral ecology around resin-based materials. The purpose of this study was to investigate how bis-GMA changes the virulence properties of Streptococcus mutans, a major cariogenic bacterium in humans. The results show that bis-GMA not only inhibited the planktonic growth of cells in medium containing glucose, fructose, or mannose, but also reduced the viability of S. mutans. However, the presence of bis-GMA increased sugar transport and intracellular polysaccharide accumulation in S. mutans, thereby increasing the potential of cell persistence. In addition, bis-GMA could enhance S. mutans's adhesion to hard surfaces and glucan synthesis, which could contribute to biofilm formation. Although free bis-GMA made cells vulnerable to acidic stress, it also provided increased resistance to hydrogen peroxide, which might confer an advantage in competition with other oral microorganisms during the early stage of biofilm development. Interestingly, the presence of bis-GMA did not change the ability of S. mutans to interact with saliva. The results suggest that leachable bis-GMA could contribute to biofilm-related secondary dental caries at the marginal interface between resin-based materials and teeth by altering the virulent properties of S. mutans, although bis-GMA reduced the planktonic growth and viability of S. mutans.