Streptococcus mutans biofilm changes surface-topography of resin composites

Beyth, Nurit; Bahir, Ran; Matalon, Shlomo; Domb, Abraham J.; Weiss, Ervin I.

doi:10.1016/j.dental.2007.08.003

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Volume 24, Issue 6 , Pages 732-736, June 2008

Streptococcus mutans biofilm changes surface-topography of resin composites

Nurit Beyth
- Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
Ran Bahir
- Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
Shlomo Matalon
- Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
Abraham J. Domb
- Departments of Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Products, School of Pharmacy-Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
- Affiliated with the Alex Gross Center for Drug Design and Synthesis and the David R. Bloom Center for Pharmaceutical Research at The Hebrew University, Lionel Jacobson Chair in Medicinal Chemistry.
Ervin I. Weiss
- Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
- Corresponding author at: Department of Prosthodontics, Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, P.O. Box 12272, Jerusalem 91120, Israel. Tel.: +972 2 6776142; fax: +972 2 6429683.

Received 5 February 2007; accepted 16 August 2007.

Abstract

Objectives

Polymerized resin composites and nonpolymerized monomers are reported to accelerate bacterial growth. Furthermore, in vivo, resin composite restorations accumulate more plaque than other restorative materials. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that bacteria–composite surface interaction causes changes in surface-topography.

Methods

Resin composite disks were polymerized between two glass slides. Streptococcus mutans cells were brought in contact with and grown on the disks for 1 day, 1 week or 1 month. The disks were analyzed using atomic force microscopy. One-month-aged composite specimens were assayed for changes in micro-hardness and bacterial outgrowth.

Results

Atomic force microscopy analysis revealed a time-dependent increase in root mean square (RMS) roughness (p<0.0001). S. mutans outgrowth was accelerated following direct contact with the surface of aged composites, with no changes in micro-hardness.

Significance

Our results show that S. mutans growth on resin composite increases surface roughness without affecting micro-hardness. The change in surface integrity may further accelerate biofilm accumulation.

Keywords: Resin composites, Biofilm, Streptococcus mutans, Surface-topography