The Antibacterial Effect of Two Cavity Disinfectants against One of Cariogenic Pathogen: An In vitro Comparative Study

INTRODUCTION: Bacteria residing in the oral cavity penetrate freely through the resultant fissures under the fillings, which might lead to the development of secondary caries. Nowadays dentistry, different nanotechnological materials with antibacterial activity are being developed for oral cavity disinfection. AIM: This study aims to investigate the antibacterial activity of a new cavity disinfectant NanoCare Plus Silver Gold(®) (NanoCare) in comparison to (0.2%) chlorhexidine (CHX) gluconate disinfectant against Streptococcus mutans growth and colony count using Agar well diffusion method and contact test, respectively, and also, to assess the nanoparticles (NPs) size distribution and Zeta potential of a NanoCare disinfectant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 36 samples of cavity disinfectants were divided into two main groups (G) (n = 18); G1: NanoCare, and G2: CHX. Each group was subdivided into two subgroups (C) (n = 9) according to the antimicrobial test that the samples were subjected to. RESULTS: A chlorohexidine group demonstrated the higher mean inhibition zone values than NanoCare group where P ≤ 0.05, as well both groups had a significant decrease in bacterial colony count where P ≤ 0.001. The particles size distribution in NanoCare sample was found that 99% of particles number with an average size of 29.07 nm and 1% was 136.7 nm, while the Zeta potential value was −6.5 mV. CONCLUSIONS: NanoCare cavity disinfectant displayed good antibacterial property against S. mutans. The innovative incorporation of NPs into this cavity disinfectant could be used to improve the antimicrobial capacity of the material and help to decrease secondary caries risk.