In vitro bacterial adherence onto pellicle-coated aesthetic restorative materials

Adhesion of oral bacteria to teeth and restorative materials plays an important role in the pathogenesis of oral diseases. This study investigated the initial adhesion of Streptococcus mutans to enamel and restorative materials. Three types of composites and two types of glass ionomer cements were used. The specimens were coated with freshly collected human parotid saliva. The salivary coated samples were incubated with cell-free glucosyltransferase, and further incubated with sucrose solution. Finally, the specimens were incubated with 3H-thymidine labelled bacteria. Adhesion of the bacteria to the specimens was measured by scintillation counter. SEM observations were performed on each sample. The results showed no significant differences among the materials and the control. These findings can be explained by the pellicle which coated all the specimens. This biofilm, to which the bacteria were adhered and proved to probably masked existing surface properties of the specimens resulting in similar bacterial adhesion.