The effect of the addition of propolis to resin-modified glass ionomer cement bracket adhesive materials on the growth inhibition zone of Streptococcus mutans

Background: Orthodontic treatments progress alongside the development of adhesive materials. The present study aimed to determine the antibacterial properties of propolis, a natural product, in a mixture of resin-modified glass ionomer cement by observing the growth inhibition zone of Streptococcus mutans. Methods: This was an in vitro study conducted on 45 samples of adhesive material, which were divided into control group (resin-modified glass ionomer cement bracket adhesive material), two groups of propolis concentrations (15%, and 25%) and duration (0, 15, and 30 days). The antibacterial effect of each sample was evaluated against S. mutans using an agar plate diffusion test. Measurement of the diameter of the growth inhibition zone of S. mutans was carried out. The data obtained were analyzed statisticallyThe significance value of the Kruskal Wallis and Mann-Whitney test was set at p <0.05, while the significance value of the normality and homogeneity test was set at p> 0.05). Datas in this study that were not normally distributed (p = 0.012) but homogeneous (p = 0.110) were analyzed by the Kruskal-Wallis test (p = 0.003) and then the Mann-Whitney test was performed to determine differences in significance between groups. Results: There was a relationship between concentration and duration of propolis to the growth inhibition zone of S. mutans (p=0.003). The addition of 25% propolis concentration inhibited the growth of S. mutans more than the addition of 15% and without propolis (control group). The addition of propolis to resin-modified glass ionomer cement for 15 days was more effective in inhibiting the growth of S. mutans. Conclusion: The addition of propolis to adhesive materials provides an inhibitory effect on the growth of S. mutans, which may be effective in the world of preventive dentistry.