Experimental Evaluation of the Effect of Zinc Salt on Inhibition of Streptococcus mutans

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: The rate of antibiotic resistance in bacteria and side effects of antibiotics and oral and teeth health care products are increasing. Therefore, researchers aim at finding new alternatives to control bacteria of dental caries. PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to investigate the inhibitory and bactericidal effects of different concentrations of zinc sulfate and zinc acetate solutions on the main recognized agent of dental caries, Streptococcus mutans. MATERIALS AND METHOD: In this experimental study, different concentrations of aqueous zinc sulfate and zinc acetate solutions were prepared and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of these salts for Streptococcus mutans were determined in compare with penicillin, chlorhexidine by micro-serial dilution method. In addition, the diameters of zone of inhibition for these salt solutions in four concentrations along with chlorhexidine, as the control, were detected by the disc diffusion method. RESULTS: MIC and MBC of zinc sulfate solution were higher than penicillin and chlorhexidine. There were not statistically significant differences between the MIC and MBC of zinc acetate solution, penicillin, and chlorhexidine. In 25 and 50 µg/mL concentrations, the diameters of inhibition zone for zinc sulfate were more than zinc ac CONCLUSION: Zinc sulfate and zinc acetate salts with 37.19 and 31.25 µgr/mL concentration had inhibitory effect on Streptococcus mutans growth respectively, although, no priority in antibacterial activity of the studied zinc salts was determined in comparison with penicillin and chlorhexidine.