An Evaluation of Dentin’s Effect on the Antifungal Activity of MTA Cements

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dentin on the antifungal activity of gray and white-colored MTA (GMTA, WMTA) using a tube-dilution test. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MTA preparations were tested freshly mixed and after 24h on Candida Albicans (CA). The experiment was performed in 24-well culture plates. Fifty wells were used and divided into four experimental groups (freshly-mixed WMTA, freshly-mixed WMTA plus dentin powder, freshly-mixed GMTA, and freshly-mixed GMTA plus dentin powder) of 10 wells each and control groups of five wells each. Plates of Sabouraud dextrose agar mixed with CA served as positive control and Sabouraud dextrose agar without CA served as negative control. Fresh inoculate of CA was prepared by growing an overnight culture from a stock culture. Aliquots of CA were then taken from the stock culture and plated on the agar compound of the experimental and positive control group. All plates were incubated at 37°C for1h, 24h, and 72h. Growth of fungi was monitored daily by the presence of turbidity. Kruskal-Wallis test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Results showed the inhibitory effect of dentin powder on the antifungal effect of MTA cements during 24h and 72h incubation periods, whereas, there was no significant difference between 1h incubation groups. CONCLUSION: The antifungal effect of freshly mixed MTA cements was decreased in the presence of dentin.