Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine in vitro plaque formation on sealant coated enamel. The plaque growth on different types of sealants placed on enamel was compared to each other and to an unsealed enamel control. The antimicrobial properties of sealants were also studied.

Sealant coated bovine enamel disks were immersed in a S. mutans culture medium for four days. The amount of bacterial plaque formation was quantified by removing the deposit, suspending it in solution with subsequent serial dilution. Aliquots of the dilutions were then spread on blood agar plates and incubated for 48 hours. The number of colony forming units (CPU) on the plates were counted and used to calculate the amount of viable bacteria in the plaque deposits.

Antimicrobial action of the sealants was tested by placing cured sealant pellets and uncured liquid components on S. mutans bacterial lawn grown on blood agar plates. Antimicrobial activity was quantified by measuring the zone of inhibition of bacterial growth.

None of the sealants studied accumulated more plaque than unsealed enamel. The light cured sealant and the fluoride releasing chemically cured sealants actually collected significantly less plaque than unsealed enamel. This effect may be attributed to the surface properties of the sealants as compared to the unsealed enamel. The cured sealants showed no apparent signs of antimicrobial activity. However, fluoride release may have had a limited local effect at decreasing plaque formation.

LLU Discipline

Orthodontics

Department

Dentistry

School

Graduate School

First Advisor

R. David Rynearson

Second Advisor

James D. Kettering

Third Advisor

Willis L. Schlenker

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Level

M.S.

Year Degree Awarded

1996

Date (Title Page)

6-1996

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Orthodontic Appliances; Pit and Fissure Sealants; Resins; Dental Bonding; Dental Plaque

Type

Thesis

Page Count

2 vi; 21

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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