An evaluation of antimicrobial potential of irreversible hydrocolloid impression material incorporated with chitosan

To evaluate the antimicrobial potential of irreversible hydrocolloid impression material manipulated using chitosan impregnated solution at various time intervals.

Evaluative invivo study design.

Maxillary impressions made for 20 dentulous volunteers using irreversible hydrocolloid impression material manipulated using distilled water as control and using 1% chitosan impregnated solution as test group using stock metal trays with one-week interval. Bacterial samples were collected using dry sterile cotton swab in the mid-palatal region at the time intervals of 0, 10, 20 minutes. Bacterial swabs were inoculated on nutrient agar media and incubated at 37° C for 24 hours. Bacterial colonies were counted with the aid of colony counter.

The resultant data was subjected to statistical analysis using repeated measures ANOVA and independent t test.

Adding water soluble chitosan to irreversible hydrocolloid impression material resulted in superior antimicrobial activity. With the passage of time there was a significant decrease in the microbial colony count upto 10min (p=0.016). However, the rate of decrease of microbial colony count was statistically insignificant between the samples collected at 10 and 20 min.

Incorporation of water soluble chitosan to irreversible hydrocolloid impression material showed significant antimicrobial activity in 10 minutes.