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Updated: Oct 23, 2025

Oral Biofilm Formation on Different Materials for Dental Implants
Published on: June 24, 2018
Biocompatible orthodontic cement with antibacterial capability and protein repellency
Miao Chen1, Jianru Yi2, Zhihe Zhao3
1State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Orthodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, #14, 3rd Section, South Renmin Road, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China.
Background:
White spot lesions (WSLs) often occur in orthodontic treatments. The objectives of this study were to develop a novel orthodontic cement using particles of nano silver (NAg), N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC), and to investigate the effects on bonding strength, biofilms and biocompatibility.
Methods:
A commercial resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC) was modified by adding NAg, NAC and MPC. The unmodified RMGIC served as the control. Enamel bond strength and cytotoxicity of the cements were investigated. The protein repellent behavior of cements was also evaluated. The metabolic assay, lactic acid production assay and colony-forming unit assay of biofilms were used to determine the antibacterial capability of cements.
Results:
The new bioactive cement with NAg, NAC and MPC had clinically acceptable bond strength and biocompatibility. Compared to commercial control, the new cement suppressed metabolic activity and lactic acid production of biofilms by 59.03% and 70.02% respectively (p < 0.05), reduced biofilm CFU by 2 logs (p < 0.05) and reduced protein adsorption by 76.87% (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
The new cement with NAg, NAC and MPC had strong antibacterial capability, protein-repellent ability and acceptable biocompatibility. The new cement is promising to protect enamel from demineralization during orthodontic treatments.
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