Antimicrobial Capacity of Casein Phosphopeptide/Amorphous Calcium Phosphate and Enzymes in Glass Ionomer Cement in Dentin Carious Lesions.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the ability of casein phosphopeptide/amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP/ACP) and lysozyme, lactoferrin, and lactoperoxidase (LLL) added to glass ionomer cement (GIC) to inhibit the growth of S. mutans in a caries model.

METHODS

Eighty permanent third molars were selected. The dentin of these teeth was exposed and flattened. Except for the coronal dentin, the specimens were waterproofed, autoclaved, and submitted to cariogenic challenge with standard strain of S. mutans. The carious lesions were sealed as follows: group 1 (n=20): GIC without additives; group 2 (n=20): GIC + CPP/ACP; group 3 (n=20): GIC + LLL; group 4 (n=20): GIC + CPP/ACP + LLL. S. mutans counts were performed before the caries were sealed (n=5), after 24 hours (n=5), at 1 month (n=5), and at 6 months (n=5). The results were analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis and the Kruskal-Wallis test (Student-Newman-Keuls test).

RESULTS

GIC + LLL caused a significant reduction of S. mutans 1 month after sealing (p<0.01); however, there was a significant growth of S. mutans 6 months after sealing. GIC, GIC + CPP/ACP, and GIC + CPP/ACP + LLL showed similar behavior with significant reduction of S. mutans after 24 hours (p<0.05) and increase after 1 and 6 months.

CONCLUSIONS

The addition of LLL to GIC increases the antimicrobial action of GIC on S. mutans. This leads to control of bacterial biofilm for 1 month, thus stopping the progression of carious lesions.