Efficacy of methylene blue and curcumin mediated antimicrobial photodynamic therapy in the treatment of indirect pulp capping in permanent molar teeth.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to evaluate the adhesive bond strength and antibacterial efficacy of methylene blue (MB)-mediated antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) and curcumin (CUR)-mediated aPDT versus the conventional disinfectants, such as chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX) gel and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), for indirect pulp capping (IPC) treatment of permanent molars.

METHODS

One Hundred grossly carious human permanent molars were collected through non-traumatic extraction. All specimens were embedded in polyvinyl cross-sections to the cemento-enamel junction. The cavity preparation was conducted by grinding the samples using silicon carbide discs. After culturing Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), a 10 µL of S. mutans suspension (10 colony forming units/mL) was transferred in each tooth cavity and anaerobically incubated for 48 h at 37 °C. All specimens were randomly divided into 5 groups: Group-I: samples treated IPC; Group-II: samples treated with 2% CHX gel; Group-III: samples treated with 6% NaOCl; Group-IV: irradiation of prepared cavity with MB-mediated aPDT; and Group-V: irradiation of prepared cavity with CUR-mediated aPDT. After disinfection methods, the universal adhesive was used, and all specimens were restored using giomer. Eventually, confocal laser scanning microscopy, shear bond strength (SBS), micro-tensile bond strength (μTBS), four-point bending strength (4P-BS) analyses were performed, and the data were analyzed statistically.

RESULTS

At baseline, the highest SBS (48.8 ± 6.5 MPa), μTBS (54.3 ± 3.9 MPa), and 4P-BS (123 ± 32 MPa) scores were demonstrated by the samples treated with MB-mediated aPDT. However, after 12 months of storage, the highest SBS (42.3 ± 3.9 MPa) and μTBS (45.2 ± 6.6 MPa) scores were shown by samples treated with MB-mediated aPDT, while CUR-mediated aPDT treated samples demonstrated the highest 4P-BS scores (70 ± 18 MPa). Moreover, the highest antibacterial activity against S. mutans was shown by the samples treated with MB-mediated aPDT.

CONCLUSIONS

The application of aPDT, especially MB-mediated, demonstrated superior SBS, μTBS, and 4P-BS values as well as antibacterial activity against S. mutans as compared to 2% CHX gel and 6% NaOCl as cavity disinfectants for IPC treatment of permanent molars.