An evaluation of antimicrobial potential of irreversible hydrocolloid impression material incorporated with chitosan

AIM: To evaluate the antimicrobial potential of irreversible hydrocolloid impression material manipulated using chitosan impregnated solution at various time intervals. SETTING AND DESIGN: Evaluative invivo study design. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Maxillary impressions made for 20 dentulous volunteers using irreversible hydrocolloid impression material manipulated using distilled water as control and using 1% chitosan impregnated solution as test group using stock metal trays with one-week interval. Bacterial samples were collected using dry sterile cotton swab in the mid-palatal region at the time intervals of 0, 10, 20 minutes. Bacterial swabs were inoculated on nutrient agar media and incubated at 37° C for 24 hours. Bacterial colonies were counted with the aid of colony counter. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The resultant data was subjected to statistical analysis using repeated measures ANOVA and independent t test. RESULTS: Adding water soluble chitosan to irreversible hydrocolloid impression material resulted in superior antimicrobial activity. With the passage of time there was a significant decrease in the microbial colony count upto 10min (p=0.016). However, the rate of decrease of microbial colony count was statistically insignificant between the samples collected at 10 and 20 min. CONCLUSION: Incorporation of water soluble chitosan to irreversible hydrocolloid impression material showed significant antimicrobial activity in 10 minutes.