ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES ON FIXED RETAINER ADHESIVE TOWARD TREPONEMA DENTICOLA

Objective: The objective of this study was to develop an antibacterial flowable composite containing silver nanoparticle (AgNP) for the prevention ofperiodontal disease in fixed retainers.Methods: About 1% AgNP was incorporated into a commercial composite (tetric flow). The experimental and control products were used to bondfixed retainers to 28 extracted mandibular first premolars. The samples were randomly divided into four groups (n=7): Premolar bonded withfiber-reinforced composites and tetric flow (F1); premolar bonded with fiber-reinforced composites and AgNP-enhanced tetric flow (F2); premolarbonded with multistranded wires (MW) and tetric flow (M1); and premolar bonded with MW and AgNP-enhanced tetric flow (M2). Each sample wassubmerged in a test tube containing bacterial Treponema denticola solution and was incubated for 24 h and 37°temperature. The bacterial colony ineach group was counted and analyzed.Results: This study showed that there was significant difference of T. denticola colony count between groups with and without AgNP-enhancedcomposites in both types of retainers.Conclusion: AgNP-enhanced flowable composites reduce the bacteria T. denticola colony count and possibly inhibit periodontal disease.